Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Rental and other revenues	$ 720,035	$ 702,737	$ 665,634
Operating expenses:
Rental property and other expenses	242,415	236,888	231,085
Depreciation and amortization	229,955	227,832	220,140
Impairments of real estate assets	423	1,445	0
General and administrative	40,006	39,648	38,153
Total operating expenses	512,799	505,813	489,378
Interest expense:
Contractual	68,565	65,939	73,142
Amortization of debt issuance costs	2,857	3,166	3,506
Total interest expense	71,422	69,105	76,648
Other income:
Interest and other income	1,940	2,309	2,338
Losses on debt extinguishment	0	(26)	0
Total other income	1,940	2,283	2,338
Income from continuing operations before disposition of investment properties and activity in unconsolidated affiliates	137,754	130,102	101,946
Gains on disposition of property	37,638	54,157	14,807
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	2,238	7,404	5,793
Income from continuing operations	177,630	191,663	122,546
Discontinued operations:
Income from discontinued operations	0	0	4,097
Net gains on disposition of discontinued operations	0	0	414,496
Total income from discontinued operations	0	0	418,593
Net income	177,630	191,663	541,139
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(4,588)	(5,059)	(15,596)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(1,207)	(1,239)	(1,253)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(2,492)	(2,492)	(2,501)
Net income available for common stockholders	$ 169,343	$ 182,873	$ 521,789
Earnings per Common Share - basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 1.64	$ 1.78	$ 1.17
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	0.00	0.00	4.13
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 1.64	$ 1.78	$ 5.30
Weighted average Common Shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	103,439	102,682	98,439
Earnings per Common Share - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 1.64	$ 1.78	$ 1.17
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	0.00	0.00	4.13
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 1.64	$ 1.78	$ 5.30
Weighted average Common Shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)	106,268	105,594	101,398
Net income available for common stockholders:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders	$ 169,343	$ 182,873	$ 115,461
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders	0	0	406,328
Net income available for common stockholders	169,343	182,873	521,789
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Rental and other revenues	720,035	702,737	665,634
Operating expenses:
Rental property and other expenses	242,415	236,888	231,085
Depreciation and amortization	229,955	227,832	220,140
Impairments of real estate assets	423	1,445	0
General and administrative	40,006	39,648	38,153
Total operating expenses	512,799	505,813	489,378
Interest expense:
Contractual	68,565	65,939	73,142
Amortization of debt issuance costs	2,857	3,166	3,506
Total interest expense	71,422	69,105	76,648
Other income:
Interest and other income	1,940	2,309	2,338
Losses on debt extinguishment	0	(26)	0
Total other income	1,940	2,283	2,338
Income from continuing operations before disposition of investment properties and activity in unconsolidated affiliates	137,754	130,102	101,946
Gains on disposition of property	37,638	54,157	14,807
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	2,238	7,404	5,793
Income from continuing operations	177,630	191,663	122,546
Discontinued operations:
Income from discontinued operations	0	0	4,097
Net gains on disposition of discontinued operations	0	0	414,496
Total income from discontinued operations	0	0	418,593
Net income	177,630	191,663	541,139
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(1,207)	(1,239)	(1,253)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(2,492)	(2,492)	(2,501)
Net income available for common unitholders	$ 173,931	$ 187,932	$ 537,385
Earnings per Common Unit - basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 1.64	$ 1.79	$ 1.18
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	0.00	0.00	4.15
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 1.64	$ 1.79	$ 5.33
Weighted average Common Units outstanding - basic (in shares)	105,826	105,106	100,902
Earnings per Common Unit - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 1.64	$ 1.79	$ 1.18
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	0.00	0.00	4.14
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 1.64	$ 1.79	$ 5.32
Weighted average Common Units outstanding - diluted (in shares)	105,859	105,185	100,989
Net income available for common unitholders:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders	$ 173,931	$ 187,932	$ 118,792
Total income from discontinued operations	0	0	418,593
Net income available for common unitholders	$ 173,931	$ 187,932	$ 537,385