Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Real estate assets, at cost:
Land	$ 491,613	$ 491,441
Buildings and tenant improvements	4,728,637	4,676,862
Development in-process	162,076	165,537
Land held for development	94,312	128,248
Total real estate assets	5,476,638	5,462,088
Less-accumulated depreciation	(1,324,447)	(1,296,562)
Net real estate assets	4,152,191	4,165,526
Real estate and other assets, net, held for sale	24,893	0
Cash and cash equivalents	4,827	3,769
Restricted cash	7,640	6,374
Accounts receivable	30,646	25,952
Mortgages and notes receivable, net of allowance of $36 and $44, respectively	1,623	5,599
Accrued straight-line rents receivable	219,870	220,088
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	23,296	23,585
Deferred leasing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $149,863 and $149,275, respectively	194,848	195,273
Prepaid expenses and other assets, net of accumulated depreciation of $18,751 and $18,074, respectively	66,282	28,843
Total Assets	4,726,116	4,675,009
Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Capital:
Mortgages and notes payable, net	2,160,594	2,085,831
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	237,278	218,922
Total Liabilities	2,397,872	2,304,753
Commitments and contingencies
Noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	127,976	105,960
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), 28,859 and 28,877 shares issued and outstanding, respectively	28,859	28,877
Common Stock, $.01 par value, 200,000,000 authorized shares; 103,690,619 and 103,557,065 shares issued and outstanding, respectively	1,037	1,036
Additional paid-in capital	2,956,517	2,976,197
Distributions in excess of net income available for common stockholders	(811,223)	(769,303)
Accumulated other comprehensive income	7,494	9,913
Total Stockholders’ Equity	2,182,684	2,246,720
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	17,584	17,576
Total Equity/Capital	2,200,268	2,264,296
Total Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Total Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Capital	4,726,116	4,675,009
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Real estate assets, at cost:
Land	491,613	491,441
Buildings and tenant improvements	4,728,637	4,676,862
Development in-process	162,076	165,537
Land held for development	94,312	128,248
Total real estate assets	5,476,638	5,462,088
Less-accumulated depreciation	(1,324,447)	(1,296,562)
Net real estate assets	4,152,191	4,165,526
Real estate and other assets, net, held for sale	24,893	0
Cash and cash equivalents	4,827	3,769
Restricted cash	7,640	6,374
Accounts receivable	30,646	25,952
Mortgages and notes receivable, net of allowance of $36 and $44, respectively	1,623	5,599
Accrued straight-line rents receivable	219,870	220,088
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	23,296	23,585
Deferred leasing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $149,863 and $149,275, respectively	194,848	195,273
Prepaid expenses and other assets, net of accumulated depreciation of $18,751 and $18,074, respectively	66,282	28,843
Total Assets	4,726,116	4,675,009
Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Capital:
Mortgages and notes payable, net	2,160,594	2,085,831
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	237,278	218,922
Total Liabilities	2,397,872	2,304,753
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable Operating Partnership Units:
Common Units, 2,735,703 and 2,738,703 outstanding, respectively	127,976	105,960
Series A Preferred Units (liquidation preference $1,000 per unit), 28,859 and 28,877 units issued and outstanding, respectively	28,859	28,877
Total Redeemable Operating Partnership Units	156,835	134,837
Equity/Capital:
General partner Common Units, 1,060,175 and 1,058,870 outstanding, respectively	21,463	22,078
Limited partner Common Units, 102,221,635 and 102,089,386 outstanding, respectively	2,124,868	2,185,852
Accumulated other comprehensive income	7,494	9,913
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	17,584	17,576
Total Equity/Capital	2,171,409	2,235,419
Total Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Total Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Capital	$ 4,726,116	$ 4,675,009