Disclosure About Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Assets:
Mortgages and notes receivable, at fair value	$ 1,203	$ 1,227
Marketable securities of non-qualified deferred compensation plan (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	2,721	2,866
Total Assets	3,924	4,093
Liabilities:
Mortgages and notes payable, net, at fair value	2,765,393	2,907,492
Interest rate swaps (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)		60
Non-qualified deferred compensation obligation (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	2,721	2,866
Total Liabilities	2,768,114	2,910,418
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)	2,721	2,866
Total Assets	2,721	2,866
Liabilities:
Mortgages and notes payable, net, at fair value	0	0
Interest rate swaps (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)		0
Non-qualified deferred compensation obligation (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	2,721	2,866
Total Liabilities	2,721	2,866
Level 2 [Member]
Assets:
Mortgages and notes receivable, at fair value	1,203	1,227
Marketable securities of non-qualified deferred compensation plan (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	0	0
Total Assets	1,203	1,227
Liabilities:
Mortgages and notes payable, net, at fair value	2,765,393	2,907,492
Interest rate swaps (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)		60
Non-qualified deferred compensation obligation (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	0	0
Total Liabilities	2,765,393	2,907,552
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member]
Assets:
Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership	114,570	111,689
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Assets:
Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership	114,570	111,689
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Assets:
Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership	$ 0	$ 0