Earnings Per Share and Per Unit (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Earnings per Common Share/Unit - basic: [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations									$ 177,630	$ 191,663	$ 122,546
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership from continuing operations									(4,588)	(5,059)	(3,331)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates from continuing operations	$ (289)	$ (324)	$ (308)	$ (286)	$ (325)	$ (315)	$ (299)	$ (300)	(1,207)	(1,239)	(1,253)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(623)	(623)	(623)	(623)	(623)	(623)	(623)	(623)	(2,492)	(2,492)	(2,501)
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders									169,343	182,873	115,461
Income from discontinued operations									0	0	418,593
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership from discontinued operations									0	0	(12,265)
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders									0	0	406,328
Net income available for common stockholders	$ 53,048	$ 33,160	$ 50,686	$ 32,449	$ 56,570	$ 57,040	$ 37,589	$ 31,674	$ 169,343	$ 182,873	$ 521,789
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Share - weighted average shares (in shares)									103,439	102,682	98,439
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)	$ 0.51	$ 0.32	$ 0.49	$ 0.31	$ 0.55	$ 0.55	$ 0.37	$ 0.31	$ 1.64	$ 1.78	$ 5.30
Earnings per Common Share/Unit - diluted: [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations									$ 177,630	$ 191,663	$ 122,546
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates from continuing operations	$ (289)	$ (324)	$ (308)	$ (286)	$ (325)	$ (315)	$ (299)	$ (300)	(1,207)	(1,239)	(1,253)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	$ (623)	$ (623)	$ (623)	$ (623)	$ (623)	$ (623)	$ (623)	$ (623)	(2,492)	(2,492)	(2,501)
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders before net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership									173,931	187,932	118,792
Income from discontinued operations									0	0	418,593
Net income available for common stockholders before net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership									$ 173,931	$ 187,932	$ 537,385
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Share - weighted average shares (in shares)									103,439	102,682	98,439
Stock options using the treasury method									33	79	87
Noncontrolling interests Common Units									2,796	2,833	2,872
Denominator for diluted earnings per Common Share - adjusted weighted average shares and assumed conversions (in shares)									106,268	105,594	101,398
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)	$ 0.51	$ 0.32	$ 0.49	$ 0.31	$ 0.55	$ 0.55	$ 0.37	$ 0.31	$ 1.64	$ 1.78	$ 5.30
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Earnings per Common Share/Unit - basic: [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations									$ 177,630	$ 191,663	$ 122,546
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates from continuing operations	$ (289)	$ (324)	$ (308)	$ (286)	$ (325)	$ (315)	$ (299)	$ (300)	(1,207)	(1,239)	(1,253)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(623)	(623)	(623)	(623)	(623)	(623)	(623)	(623)	(2,492)	(2,492)	(2,501)
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders									173,931	187,932	118,792
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders									0	0	418,593
Net income available for common unitholders	$ 54,465	$ 34,062	$ 52,067	$ 33,337	$ 58,127	$ 58,611	$ 38,632	$ 32,562	$ 173,931	$ 187,932	$ 537,385
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Unit - weighted average units (in shares)									105,826	105,106	100,902
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)	$ 0.51	$ 0.32	$ 0.49	$ 0.32	$ 0.55	$ 0.55	$ 0.37	$ 0.31	$ 1.64	$ 1.79	$ 5.33
Earnings per Common Share/Unit - diluted: [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations									$ 177,630	$ 191,663	$ 122,546
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates from continuing operations	$ (289)	$ (324)	$ (308)	$ (286)	$ (325)	$ (315)	$ (299)	$ (300)	(1,207)	(1,239)	(1,253)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(623)	(623)	(623)	(623)	(623)	(623)	(623)	(623)	(2,492)	(2,492)	(2,501)
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders									173,931	187,932	118,792
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders									0	0	418,593
Net income available for common unitholders	$ 54,465	$ 34,062	$ 52,067	$ 33,337	$ 58,127	$ 58,611	$ 38,632	$ 32,562	$ 173,931	$ 187,932	$ 537,385
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Unit - weighted average units (in shares)									105,826	105,106	100,902
Stock options using the treasury method									33	79	87
Denominator for diluted earnings per Common Unit - adjusted weighted average units and assumed conversions (in shares)									105,859	105,185	100,989
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)	$ 0.51	$ 0.32	$ 0.49	$ 0.32	$ 0.55	$ 0.55	$ 0.37	$ 0.31	$ 1.64	$ 1.79	$ 5.32