The number of buildings sold.

No definition available.

Name:	hiw_NumberofBuildingsSold
Namespace Prefix:	hiw_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The purchase price of real estate before and/or after closing credits to buyer for unfunded tenant improvements, building improvements and/or free rent, if any.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	hiw_PurchasePriceOfRealEstate
Namespace Prefix:	hiw_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Aggregate dividends declared during the period for each share of common stock outstanding.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120397183&loc=d3e187085-122770

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of gain (loss) on sale or disposal of property, plant and equipment assets, excluding oil and gas property and timber property.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121586364&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 360
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109226348&loc=d3e2443-110228

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 360
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109226691&loc=d3e2941-110230

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GainLossOnDispositionOfAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Detail information of subsequent event by type. User is expected to use existing line items from elsewhere in the taxonomy as the primary line items for this disclosure, which is further associated with dimension and member elements pertaining to a subsequent event.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SubsequentEventLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=hiw_A2020DispositionsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis=us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ConsolidatedEntitiesAxis=srt_ParentCompanyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Subsequent Events (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands			3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
	Jul. 28, 2020 $ / shares	Jul. 01, 2020 USD ($) propertyUnit	Jun. 30, 2020 USD ($) $ / shares	Mar. 31, 2020 USD ($) propertyUnit	Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($) $ / shares	Jun. 30, 2020 USD ($) $ / shares	Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($) $ / shares
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Gains on disposition of property			$ 318		$ 6,703	$ 153,385	$ 6,703
2020 Dispositions [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Number of buildings sold \| propertyUnit				41
Purchase price of real estate			2,800	$ 338,400
Gains on disposition of property			$ (100)	$ 153,100
2020 Dispositions [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Number of buildings sold \| propertyUnit		2
Purchase price of real estate		$ 23,300
Gains on disposition of property		$ 9,300
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Dividends on Common Stock (per share) \| $ / shares			$ 0.48		$ 0.475	$ 0.96	$ 0.95
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Dividends on Common Stock (per share) \| $ / shares	$ 0.48