Disclosure About Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Assets:
Mortgages and notes receivable, at fair value	$ 1,489	$ 1,501
Marketable securities of non-qualified deferred compensation plan (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	1,759	2,345
Total Assets	3,248	3,846
Liabilities:
Mortgages and notes payable, net, at fair value	2,384,563	2,615,776
Interest rate swaps (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	1,284	154
Non-qualified deferred compensation obligation (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	1,759	2,345
Total Liabilities	2,387,606	2,618,275
Level 1 [Member]
Assets:
Mortgages and notes receivable, at fair value	0	0
Marketable securities of non-qualified deferred compensation plan (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	1,759	2,345
Total Assets	1,759	2,345
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)	1,759	2,345
Total Liabilities	1,759	2,345
Level 2 [Member]
Assets:
Mortgages and notes receivable, at fair value	1,489	1,501
Marketable securities of non-qualified deferred compensation plan (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	0	0
Total Assets	1,489	1,501
Liabilities:
Mortgages and notes payable, net, at fair value	2,384,563	2,615,776
Interest rate swaps (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	1,284	154
Non-qualified deferred compensation obligation (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	0	0
Total Liabilities	2,385,847	2,615,930
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member]
Assets:
Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership	100,674	133,216
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Assets:
Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership	100,674	133,216
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Assets:
Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership	$ 0	$ 0