Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Operating activities:
Net income	$ 177,630	$ 191,663	$ 541,139
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	229,955	227,832	220,140
Amortization of lease incentives and acquisition-related intangible assets and liabilities	(1,943)	(1,172)	(1,996)
Share-based compensation expense	7,466	6,692	6,251
Allowance for losses on accounts and accrued straight-line rents receivable	1,212	1,508	2,001
Accrued interest on mortgages and notes receivable	(451)	(509)	(502)
Amortization of debt issuance costs	2,857	3,166	3,506
Amortization of cash flow hedges	(2,086)	1,157	3,057
Amortization of mortgages and notes payable fair value adjustments	1,449	705	(234)
Impairments of real estate assets	423	1,445	0
Losses on debt extinguishment	0	26	0
Net gains on disposition of property	(37,638)	(54,157)	(429,303)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(2,238)	(7,404)	(5,793)
Distributions of earnings from unconsolidated affiliates	2,104	5,078	4,424
Settlement of cash flow hedges	7,216	7,322	0
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	1,759	(4,974)	3,401
Prepaid expenses and other assets	1,217	7,908	(4,423)
Accrued straight-line rents receivable	(23,203)	(32,234)	(24,245)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	(7,101)	(1,520)	(11,618)
Net cash provided by operating activities	358,628	352,532	305,805
Investing activities:
Investments in acquired real estate and related intangible assets, net of cash acquired	(50,649)	(1,840)	(110,249)
Investments in development in-process	(150,310)	(150,944)	(177,875)
Investments in tenant improvements and deferred leasing costs	(121,534)	(109,742)	(91,423)
Investments in building improvements	(68,256)	(63,780)	(80,672)
Net proceeds from disposition of real estate assets	88,813	129,503	684,371
Distributions of capital from unconsolidated affiliates	105	11,670	2,766
Investments in mortgages and notes receivable	0	0	(7,934)
Repayments of mortgages and notes receivable	1,312	2,917	1,699
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	0	(10,063)	(105)
Repayments from unconsolidated affiliates	0	0	448
Changes in other investing activities	(6,230)	(8,023)	(4,764)
Net cash provided by/(used in) investing activities	(306,749)	(200,302)	216,262
Financing activities:
Dividends on Common Stock	(191,302)	(180,805)	(166,861)
Special dividend on Common Stock	0	(81,205)	0
Redemptions/repurchases of Preferred Stock	(15)	(28)	(130)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(2,492)	(2,492)	(2,501)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(5,167)	(4,987)	(4,888)
Special distribution to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	0	(2,271)	0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(1,047)	(1,784)	(1,267)
Proceeds from the issuance of Common Stock	3,637	76,268	264,769
Costs paid for the issuance of Common Stock	(95)	(1,283)	(3,973)
Repurchase of shares related to tax withholdings	(1,677)	(4,008)	(4,416)
Borrowings on revolving credit facility	438,900	780,300	287,600
Repayments of revolving credit facility	(501,900)	(535,300)	(586,600)
Borrowings on mortgages and notes payable	345,863	656,001	150,000
Repayments of mortgages and notes payable	(211,803)	(832,553)	(395,993)
Payments of debt extinguishment costs	0	(57)	0
Changes in debt issuance costs and other financing activities	(2,971)	(8,324)	(981)
Net cash used in financing activities	(130,069)	(142,528)	(465,241)
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash	(78,190)	9,702	56,826
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of the period	88,333	78,631	21,805
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of the period	10,143	88,333	78,631
Reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash:
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period	3,769	3,272	49,490
Restricted cash at end of the period	6,374	85,061	29,141
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest, net of amounts capitalized	67,235	68,207	72,847
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities:
Unrealized gains on cash flow hedges	4,161	1,732	5,703
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock	4,043	511	3,057
Changes in accrued capital expenditures	(165)	(1,912)	8,580
Write-off of fully depreciated real estate assets	76,558	59,108	39,262
Write-off of fully amortized leasing costs	34,191	40,517	25,569
Write-off of fully amortized debt issuance costs	2,733	11,724	964
Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership to fair value	(33,427)	(354)	12,993
Contingent consideration in connection with the acquisition of land	0	750	0
Special dividend on Common Stock declared	0	0	(81,205)
Special distribution to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership declared	0	0	(2,271)
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Operating activities:
Net income	177,630	191,663	541,139
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	229,955	227,832	220,140
Amortization of lease incentives and acquisition-related intangible assets and liabilities	(1,943)	(1,172)	(1,996)
Share-based compensation expense	7,466	6,692	6,251
Allowance for losses on accounts and accrued straight-line rents receivable	1,212	1,508	2,001
Accrued interest on mortgages and notes receivable	(451)	(509)	(502)
Amortization of debt issuance costs	2,857	3,166	3,506
Amortization of cash flow hedges	(2,086)	1,157	3,057
Amortization of mortgages and notes payable fair value adjustments	1,449	705	(234)
Impairments of real estate assets	423	1,445	0
Losses on debt extinguishment	0	26	0
Net gains on disposition of property	(37,638)	(54,157)	(429,303)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(2,238)	(7,404)	(5,793)
Distributions of earnings from unconsolidated affiliates	2,104	5,078	4,011
Settlement of cash flow hedges	7,216	7,322	0
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	1,759	(4,974)	3,401
Prepaid expenses and other assets	1,217	7,908	(4,423)
Accrued straight-line rents receivable	(23,203)	(32,234)	(24,245)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	(7,101)	(1,520)	(11,618)
Net cash provided by operating activities	358,628	352,532	305,392
Investing activities:
Investments in acquired real estate and related intangible assets, net of cash acquired	(50,649)	(1,840)	(110,249)
Investments in development in-process	(150,310)	(150,944)	(177,875)
Investments in tenant improvements and deferred leasing costs	(121,534)	(109,742)	(91,423)
Investments in building improvements	(68,256)	(63,780)	(80,672)
Net proceeds from disposition of real estate assets	88,813	129,503	684,371
Distributions of capital from unconsolidated affiliates	105	11,670	3,179
Investments in mortgages and notes receivable	0	0	(7,934)
Repayments of mortgages and notes receivable	1,312	2,917	1,699
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	0	(10,063)	(105)
Repayments from unconsolidated affiliates	0	0	448
Changes in other investing activities	(6,230)	(8,023)	(4,764)
Net cash provided by/(used in) investing activities	(306,749)	(200,302)	216,675
Financing activities:
Distributions on Common Units	(195,712)	(185,072)	(171,054)
Special distribution on Common Units	0	(83,149)	0
Redemptions/repurchases of Preferred Units	(15)	(28)	(130)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(2,492)	(2,492)	(2,501)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(1,047)	(1,784)	(1,267)
Proceeds from the issuance of Common Units	3,637	76,268	264,769
Costs paid for the issuance of Common Units	(95)	(1,283)	(3,973)
Repurchase of units related to tax withholdings	(1,677)	(4,008)	(4,416)
Borrowings on revolving credit facility	438,900	780,300	287,600
Repayments of revolving credit facility	(501,900)	(535,300)	(586,600)
Borrowings on mortgages and notes payable	345,863	656,001	150,000
Repayments of mortgages and notes payable	(211,803)	(832,553)	(395,993)
Payments of debt extinguishment costs	0	(57)	0
Changes in debt issuance costs and other financing activities	(3,728)	(9,371)	(1,676)
Net cash used in financing activities	(130,069)	(142,528)	(465,241)
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash	(78,190)	9,702	56,826
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of the period	88,333	78,631	21,805
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of the period	10,143	88,333	78,631
Reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash:
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period	3,769	3,272	49,490
Restricted cash at end of the period	6,374	85,061	29,141
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest, net of amounts capitalized	67,235	68,207	72,847
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities:
Unrealized gains on cash flow hedges	4,161	1,732	5,703
Changes in accrued capital expenditures	(165)	(1,912)	8,580
Write-off of fully depreciated real estate assets	76,558	59,108	39,262
Write-off of fully amortized leasing costs	34,191	40,517	25,569
Write-off of fully amortized debt issuance costs	2,733	11,724	964
Adjustment of Redeemable Common Units to fair value	(38,049)	(793)	18,373
Contingent consideration in connection with the acquisition of land	0	750	0
Special distribution on Common Units declared	$ 0	$ 0	$ (83,149)