Disclosure About Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Assets:
Mortgages and notes receivable, at fair value	$ 1,542		$ 5,599
Interest rate swaps (in prepaid expenses and other assets)			1,146
Marketable securities of non-qualified deferred compensation plan (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	2,170		1,849
Impaired real estate assets	7,580		10,252
Total Assets	11,292		18,846
Liabilities:
Mortgages and notes payable, net, at fair value	2,391,434		2,056,248
Interest rate swaps (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	284		3,581
Non-qualified deferred compensation obligation (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	2,170		1,849
Total Liabilities	2,393,888		2,061,678
Level 1 [Member]
Assets:
Mortgages and notes receivable, at fair value	0		0
Interest rate swaps (in prepaid expenses and other assets)			0
Marketable securities of non-qualified deferred compensation plan (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	2,170		1,849
Impaired real estate assets	0		0
Total Assets	2,170		1,849
Liabilities:
Mortgages and notes payable, net, at fair value	0		0
Interest rate swaps (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	0		0
Non-qualified deferred compensation obligation (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	2,170		1,849
Total Liabilities	2,170		1,849
Level 2 [Member]
Assets:
Mortgages and notes receivable, at fair value	1,542		5,599
Interest rate swaps (in prepaid expenses and other assets)			1,146
Marketable securities of non-qualified deferred compensation plan (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	0		0
Impaired real estate assets	0		0
Total Assets	1,542		6,745
Liabilities:
Mortgages and notes payable, net, at fair value	2,391,434		2,056,248
Interest rate swaps (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	284		3,581
Non-qualified deferred compensation obligation (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	0		0
Total Liabilities	2,391,718		2,059,829
Level 3 [Member]
Assets:
Mortgages and notes receivable, at fair value	0		0
Interest rate swaps (in prepaid expenses and other assets)			0
Marketable securities of non-qualified deferred compensation plan (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	0		0
Impaired real estate assets	7,580	$ 700	10,252
Total Assets	7,580		10,252
Liabilities:
Mortgages and notes payable, net, at fair value	0		0
Interest rate swaps (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	0		0
Non-qualified deferred compensation obligation (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	0		0
Total Liabilities	0		0
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member]
Assets:
Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership	122,493		105,960
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Assets:
Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership	122,493		105,960
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Assets:
Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership	0		0
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Assets:
Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership	$ 0		$ 0