Consolidated Statements of Equity/Capital - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares [Member]	General Partners' Common Units [Member] Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Limited Partners' Common Units [Member] Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member] Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Affiliates [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Affiliates [Member] Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Distributions in Excess of Net Income Available for Common Stockholders [Member]
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016			101,665,554
Balance at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 2,154,316	$ 2,125,396	$ 1,017	$ 28,920	$ 21,023	$ 2,081,463	$ 2,850,881	$ 4,949	$ 4,949	$ 17,961	$ 17,961	$ (749,412)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuances of Common Units, net of issuance costs and tax withholdings		70,307			703	69,604
Distributions on Common Units		(138,577)			(1,386)	(137,191)
Distributions on Preferred Units		(1,869)			(19)	(1,850)
Issuances of Common Stock, net of issuance costs and tax withholdings - Shares			1,464,638
Issuances of Common Stock, net of issuance costs and tax withholdings	70,307		$ 15				70,292
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock - Shares			8,000
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock	408						408
Dividends on Common Stock	(135,375)											(135,375)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(1,869)											(1,869)
Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership to fair value	(3,297)						(3,297)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(1,231)	(1,231)								(1,231)	(1,231)
Issuances of restricted stock - shares			110,748
Issuances of restricted stock	0
Redemptions/repurchases of Preferred Stock	(28)			(28)
Share-based compensation expense, net of forfeitures	5,764	5,764	$ 0		58	5,706	5,764
Adjustment of Redeemable Common Units to fair value and contributions/distributions from/to the General Partner		(3,189)			(31)	(3,158)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(3,502)											(3,502)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	0	0			(9)	(905)				914	914	(914)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	132,588	132,588			1,326	131,262						132,588
Other comprehensive income	961	961						961	961
Total comprehensive income	133,549	133,549
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2017			103,248,940
Balance at Sep. 30, 2017	$ 2,219,042	2,190,150	$ 1,032	28,892	21,665	2,144,931	2,924,048	5,910	5,910	17,644	17,644	(758,484)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017	103,266,875		103,266,875
Balance at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 2,237,234	2,208,342	$ 1,033	28,892	21,830	2,161,258	2,929,399	7,838	7,838	17,416	17,416	(747,344)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuances of Common Units, net of issuance costs and tax withholdings		1,476			15	1,461
Distributions on Common Units		(146,763)			(1,467)	(145,296)
Distributions on Preferred Units		(1,869)			(19)	(1,850)
Issuances of Common Stock, net of issuance costs and tax withholdings - Shares			22,815
Issuances of Common Stock, net of issuance costs and tax withholdings	1,476		$ 0				1,476
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock - Shares			26,196
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock	1,231						1,231
Dividends on Common Stock	(143,435)											(143,435)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(1,869)											(1,869)
Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership to fair value	9,607						9,607
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(950)	(950)								(950)	(950)
Issuances of restricted stock - shares			172,440
Issuances of restricted stock	0
Redemptions/repurchases of Preferred Stock	(5)			(5)
Share-based compensation expense, net of forfeitures	6,609	6,609	$ 2		66	6,543	6,607
Adjustment of Redeemable Common Units to fair value and contributions/distributions from/to the General Partner		10,995			110	10,885
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(3,171)											(3,171)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	0	0			(9)	(909)				918	918	(918)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	122,253	122,253			1,223	121,030						122,253
Other comprehensive income	9,651	9,651						9,651	9,651
Total comprehensive income	$ 131,904	131,904
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2018	103,488,326		103,488,326
Balance at Sep. 30, 2018	$ 2,238,631	$ 2,209,744	$ 1,035	$ 28,887	$ 21,749	$ 2,153,122	$ 2,948,320	$ 17,489	$ 17,489	$ 17,384	$ 17,384	$ (774,484)