Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Real estate assets, at cost:
Land	$ 491,441	$ 485,956
Buildings and tenant improvements	4,676,862	4,590,490
Development in-process	165,537	88,452
Land held for development	128,248	74,765
Total real estate assets	5,462,088	5,239,663
Less-accumulated depreciation	(1,296,562)	(1,202,424)
Net real estate assets	4,165,526	4,037,239
Real estate and other assets, net, held for sale	0	14,118
Cash and cash equivalents	3,769	3,272
Restricted cash	6,374	85,061
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $1,166 and $753, respectively	25,952	24,397
Mortgages and notes receivable, net of allowance of $44 and $72, respectively	5,599	6,425
Accrued straight-line rents receivable, net of allowance of $641 and $819, respectively	220,088	200,131
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	23,585	23,897
Deferred leasing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $149,275 and $143,512, respectively	195,273	200,679
Prepaid expenses and other assets, net of accumulated depreciation of $18,074 and $19,092, respectively	28,843	28,572
Total Assets	4,675,009	4,623,791
Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Capital:
Mortgages and notes payable, net	2,085,831	2,014,333
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	218,922	228,215
Total Liabilities	2,304,753	2,242,548
Commitments and contingencies
Noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	105,960	144,009
Equity/Capital:
Preferred Stock, $.01 par value, 50,000,000 authorized shares; 8.625% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares (liquidation preference $1,000 per share), 28,877 and 28,892 shares issued and outstanding, respectively	28,877	28,892
Common Stock, $.01 par value, 200,000,000 authorized shares; 103,557,065 and 103,266,875 shares issued and outstanding, respectively	1,036	1,033
Additional paid-in capital	2,976,197	2,929,399
Distributions in excess of net income available for common stockholders	(769,303)	(747,344)
Accumulated other comprehensive income	9,913	7,838
Total Stockholders’ Equity	2,246,720	2,219,818
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	17,576	17,416
Total Equity/Capital:	2,264,296	2,237,234
Total Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Total Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Capital	4,675,009	4,623,791
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Real estate assets, at cost:
Land	491,441	485,956
Buildings and tenant improvements	4,676,862	4,590,490
Development in-process	165,537	88,452
Land held for development	128,248	74,765
Total real estate assets	5,462,088	5,239,663
Less-accumulated depreciation	(1,296,562)	(1,202,424)
Net real estate assets	4,165,526	4,037,239
Real estate and other assets, net, held for sale	0	14,118
Cash and cash equivalents	3,769	3,272
Restricted cash	6,374	85,061
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $1,166 and $753, respectively	25,952	24,397
Mortgages and notes receivable, net of allowance of $44 and $72, respectively	5,599	6,425
Accrued straight-line rents receivable, net of allowance of $641 and $819, respectively	220,088	200,131
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	23,585	23,897
Deferred leasing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $149,275 and $143,512, respectively	195,273	200,679
Prepaid expenses and other assets, net of accumulated depreciation of $18,074 and $19,092, respectively	28,843	28,572
Total Assets	4,675,009	4,623,791
Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Capital:
Mortgages and notes payable, net	2,085,831	2,014,333
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	218,922	228,215
Total Liabilities	2,304,753	2,242,548
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable Operating Partnership Units:
Common Units, 2,738,703 and 2,828,704 outstanding, respectively	105,960	144,009
Series A Preferred Units (liquidation preference $1,000 per unit), 28,877 and 28,892 units issued and outstanding, respectively	28,877	28,892
Total Redeemable Operating Partnership Units	134,837	172,901
Equity/Capital:
General partner Common Units, 1,058,870 and 1,056,868 outstanding, respectively	22,078	21,830
Limited partner Common Units, 102,089,386 and 101,801,198 outstanding, respectively	2,185,852	2,161,258
Accumulated other comprehensive income	9,913	7,838
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	17,576	17,416
Total Equity/Capital:	2,235,419	2,208,342
Total Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Total Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Capital	$ 4,675,009	$ 4,623,791