Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019 USD ($) a ft² shares	Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($)
Description of Business [Abstract]
Rentable square feet of commercial real estate properties (in sq feet) | ft²	30,700,000
Rentable square feet of commercial real estate office properties under development (in sq feet) | ft²	1,600,000
Undeveloped land suitable for future development (in acres) | a	350
Real estate assets, depreciation expense	$ 58,300	$ 47,500
Self insurance liability	600
Credit losses on operating lease receivables	7,315	227
Write-offs of lease incentives	1,689	(509)
Write-offs of notes receivable	4,087	0
Write-offs of tenant improvements and deferred leasing costs	$ 69,204	57,568
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member]
Description of Business [Abstract]
Common Units of partnership owned by the Company (in shares) | shares	103,300,000
Percentage of ownership of Common Units (in hundredths)	97.40%
Common Units redeemed for a like number of common shares of stock (in shares) | shares	3,000
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Description of Business [Abstract]
Common Units of partnership not owned by the Company (in shares) | shares	2,700,000
Credit losses on operating lease receivables	$ 7,315	227
Write-offs of lease incentives	1,689	(509)
Write-offs of notes receivable	4,087	0
Write-offs of tenant improvements and deferred leasing costs	$ 69,204	$ 57,568
Building [Member]
Description of Business [Abstract]
Property, plant and equipment useful life	40 years
Building Improvements [Member]
Description of Business [Abstract]
Property, plant and equipment useful life	15 years
Furniture and Fixtures [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Description of Business [Abstract]
Property, plant and equipment useful life	5 years
Furniture and Fixtures [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Description of Business [Abstract]
Property, plant and equipment useful life	7 years
Leaseholds and Leasehold Improvements [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Description of Business [Abstract]
Property, plant and equipment useful life	3 years
Leaseholds and Leasehold Improvements [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Description of Business [Abstract]
Property, plant and equipment useful life	10 years
LSI Ceased Operations [Member]
Description of Business [Abstract]
Rentable square feet of commercial real estate properties (in sq feet) | ft²	176,000
Credit losses on operating lease receivables	$ 5,600
Write-offs of lease incentives	2,300
Write-offs of notes receivable	4,100
Write-offs of tenant improvements and deferred leasing costs	$ 11,600