Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Real estate assets, at cost:
Land	$ 466,872	$ 515,095
Buildings and tenant improvements	4,981,637	5,128,150
Development in-process	259,681	172,706
Land held for development	131,474	99,163
Total real estate assets	5,839,664	5,915,114
Less-accumulated depreciation	(1,418,379)	(1,388,566)
Net real estate assets	4,421,285	4,526,548
Real estate and other assets, net, held for sale	11,360	20,790
Cash and cash equivalents	109,322	9,505
Restricted cash	79,922	5,237
Accounts receivable	27,488	23,370
Mortgages and notes receivable	1,341	1,501
Accrued straight-line rents receivable	259,381	234,652
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	27,104	26,298
Deferred leasing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $151,698 and $146,125, respectively	209,329	231,347
Prepaid expenses and other assets, net of accumulated depreciation of $21,154 and $20,017, respectively	62,885	58,996
Total Assets	5,209,417	5,138,244
Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Capital:
Mortgages and notes payable, net	2,470,021	2,543,710
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	268,727	286,911
Total Liabilities	2,738,748	2,830,621
Commitments and contingencies
Noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	112,499	133,216
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), 28,826 and 28,859 shares issued and outstanding, respectively	28,826	28,859
Common Stock, $.01 par value, 200,000,000 authorized shares; 103,921,546 and 103,756,046 shares issued and outstanding, respectively	1,039	1,038
Additional paid-in capital	2,993,946	2,954,779
Distributions in excess of net income available for common stockholders	(686,225)	(831,808)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(1,462)	(471)
Total Stockholders’ Equity	2,336,124	2,152,397
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	22,046	22,010
Total Equity/Capital:	2,358,170	2,174,407
Total Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Total Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Capital	5,209,417	5,138,244
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Real estate assets, at cost:
Land	466,872	515,095
Buildings and tenant improvements	4,981,637	5,128,150
Development in-process	259,681	172,706
Land held for development	131,474	99,163
Total real estate assets	5,839,664	5,915,114
Less-accumulated depreciation	(1,418,379)	(1,388,566)
Net real estate assets	4,421,285	4,526,548
Real estate and other assets, net, held for sale	11,360	20,790
Cash and cash equivalents	109,322	9,505
Restricted cash	79,922	5,237
Accounts receivable	27,488	23,370
Mortgages and notes receivable	1,341	1,501
Accrued straight-line rents receivable	259,381	234,652
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	27,104	26,298
Deferred leasing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $151,698 and $146,125, respectively	209,329	231,347
Prepaid expenses and other assets, net of accumulated depreciation of $21,154 and $20,017, respectively	62,885	58,996
Total Assets	5,209,417	5,138,244
Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Capital:
Mortgages and notes payable, net	2,470,021	2,543,710
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	268,727	286,911
Total Liabilities	2,738,748	2,830,621
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable Operating Partnership Units:
Redeemable Operating Partnership Units, Common Units, 2,838,725 and 2,723,703 outstanding, respectively	112,499	133,216
Series A Preferred Units (liquidation preference $1,000 per unit), 28,826 and 28,859 units issued and outstanding, respectively	28,826	28,859
Total Redeemable Operating Partnership Units	141,325	162,075
Equity/Capital:
General partner Common Units, 1,063,515 and 1,060,709 outstanding, respectively	23,087	21,240
Limited partner Common Units, 102,449,222 and 102,286,528 outstanding, respectively	2,285,673	2,102,769
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(1,462)	(471)
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	22,046	22,010
Total Equity/Capital:	2,329,344	2,145,548
Total Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Total Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Capital	$ 5,209,417	$ 5,138,244