Earnings Per Share and Per Unit (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Sep. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Earnings per Common Share/Unit - basic: [Abstract]
Net income	$ 85,287	$ 42,331	$ 38,956	$ 191,340	$ 62,346	$ 29,557	$ 41,394	$ 8,386	$ 357,914	$ 141,683	$ 177,630
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership									(9,338)	(3,551)	(4,588)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(302)	(298)	(289)	(285)	(295)	(297)	(306)	(316)	(1,174)	(1,214)	(1,207)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(622)	(622)	(622)	(622)	(622)	(622)	(622)	(622)	(2,488)	(2,488)	(2,492)
Net income available for common stockholders	$ 82,109	$ 40,304	$ 37,028	$ 185,473	$ 59,852	$ 27,901	$ 39,422	$ 7,255	$ 344,914	$ 134,430	$ 169,343
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Share - weighted average shares (in shares)									103,876	103,692	103,439
Earnings per Common Share - basic:
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.79	$ 0.39	$ 0.36	$ 1.79	$ 0.58	$ 0.27	$ 0.38	$ 0.07	$ 3.32	$ 1.30	$ 1.64
Earnings per Common Share/Unit - diluted: [Abstract]
Net income	$ 85,287	$ 42,331	$ 38,956	$ 191,340	$ 62,346	$ 29,557	$ 41,394	$ 8,386	$ 357,914	$ 141,683	$ 177,630
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(302)	(298)	(289)	(285)	(295)	(297)	(306)	(316)	(1,174)	(1,214)	(1,207)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	$ (622)	$ (622)	$ (622)	$ (622)	$ (622)	$ (622)	$ (622)	$ (622)	(2,488)	(2,488)	(2,492)
Net income available for common stockholders before net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership									$ 354,252	$ 137,981	$ 173,931
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Share - weighted average shares (in shares)									103,876	103,692	103,439
Stock options using the treasury method									8	22	33
Noncontrolling interests Common Units									2,830	2,731	2,796
Denominator for diluted earnings per Common Share - adjusted weighted average shares and assumed conversions (in shares)									106,714	106,445	106,268
Earnings per Common Share - diluted:
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.79	$ 0.39	$ 0.36	$ 1.79	$ 0.58	$ 0.27	$ 0.38	$ 0.07	$ 3.32	$ 1.30	$ 1.64
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Earnings per Common Share/Unit - basic: [Abstract]
Net income	$ 85,287	$ 42,331	$ 38,956	$ 191,340	$ 62,346	$ 29,557	$ 41,394	$ 8,386	$ 357,914	$ 141,683	$ 177,630
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(302)	(298)	(289)	(285)	(295)	(297)	(306)	(316)	(1,174)	(1,214)	(1,207)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(622)	(622)	(622)	(622)	(622)	(622)	(622)	(622)	(2,488)	(2,488)	(2,492)
Net income available for common unitholders	$ 84,363	$ 41,411	$ 38,045	$ 190,433	$ 61,429	$ 28,638	$ 40,466	$ 7,448	$ 354,252	$ 137,981	$ 173,931
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Unit - weighted average units (in shares)									106,297	106,014	105,826
Earnings per Common Unit - basic:
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.79	$ 0.39	$ 0.36	$ 1.79	$ 0.58	$ 0.27	$ 0.38	$ 0.07	$ 3.33	$ 1.30	$ 1.64
Earnings per Common Share/Unit - diluted: [Abstract]
Net income	$ 85,287	$ 42,331	$ 38,956	$ 191,340	$ 62,346	$ 29,557	$ 41,394	$ 8,386	$ 357,914	$ 141,683	$ 177,630
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(302)	(298)	(289)	(285)	(295)	(297)	(306)	(316)	(1,174)	(1,214)	(1,207)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(622)	(622)	(622)	(622)	(622)	(622)	(622)	(622)	(2,488)	(2,488)	(2,492)
Net income available for common unitholders	$ 84,363	$ 41,411	$ 38,045	$ 190,433	$ 61,429	$ 28,638	$ 40,466	$ 7,448	$ 354,252	$ 137,981	$ 173,931
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Unit - weighted average units (in shares)									106,297	106,014	105,826
Stock options using the treasury method									8	22	33
Denominator for diluted earnings per Common Unit - adjusted weighted average units and assumed conversions (in shares)									106,305	106,036	105,859
Earnings per Common Unit - diluted:
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.79	$ 0.39	$ 0.36	$ 1.79	$ 0.58	$ 0.27	$ 0.38	$ 0.07	$ 3.33	$ 1.30	$ 1.64