Earnings Per Share and Per Unit (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations		$ 28,142	$ 16,920
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership from continuing operations		(746)	(476)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates from continuing operations		(308)	(296)
Dividends on Preferred Stock		(626)	(627)
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders		26,462	15,521
Income from discontinued operations		418,593	3,915
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership from discontinued operations		(12,265)	(120)
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders		406,328	3,795
Net income available for common stockholders		$ 432,790	$ 19,316
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Share - weighted average shares (in shares)		96,373	93,222
Earnings per Common Share - basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)		$ 0.27	$ 0.17
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)		4.22	0.04
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)		$ 4.49	$ 0.21
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations		$ 28,142	$ 16,920
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates		(308)	(296)
Dividends on Preferred Stock		(626)	(627)
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders before net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership		27,208	15,997
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders		418,593	3,915
Net income available for common stockholders before net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership		$ 445,801	$ 19,912
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Share - weighted average shares (in shares)		96,373	93,222
Stock options using the treasury method		84	124
Noncontrolling interests Common Units		2,900	2,933
Denominator for diluted earnings per Common Share - adjusted weighted average shares and assumed conversions (in shares)	[1],[2]	99,357	96,279
Earnings per Common Share - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)		$ 0.27	$ 0.17
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)		4.22	0.04
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)		$ 4.49	$ 0.21
Earnings Per Share and Per Unit, Basic and Diluted, Other Disclosures [Abstract]
Number of anti-dilutive options and warrants not included in earnings per share (in shares)		400	200
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations		$ 28,142	$ 16,920
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates from continuing operations		(308)	(296)
Distributions on Preferred Units		(626)	(627)
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders		27,208	15,997
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders		418,593	3,915
Net income available for common unitholders		$ 445,801	$ 19,912
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Unit - weighted average units (in shares)		98,864	95,746
Earnings per Common Unit - basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)		$ 0.28	$ 0.17
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)		4.23	0.04
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)		$ 4.51	$ 0.21
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations		$ 28,142	$ 16,920
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates		(308)	(296)
Distributions on Preferred Units		(626)	(627)
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders		27,208	15,997
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders		418,593	3,915
Net income available for common unitholders		$ 445,801	$ 19,912
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Unit - weighted average units (in shares)		98,864	95,746
Stock options using the treasury method		84	124
Denominator for diluted earnings per Common Unit - adjusted weighted average units and assumed conversions (in shares)	[3],[4]	98,948	95,870
Earnings per Common Unit - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)		$ 0.28	$ 0.17
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)		4.23	0.04
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)		$ 4.51	$ 0.21
Earnings Per Share and Per Unit, Basic and Diluted, Other Disclosures [Abstract]
Number of anti-dilutive options and warrants not included in earnings per share (in shares)		400	200

[1] Includes all unvested restricted stock where dividends on such restricted stock are non-forfeitable.

[2] There were 0.4 million and 0.2 million options outstanding during the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, that were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the impact of including such options would be anti-dilutive.

[3] Includes all unvested restricted stock where dividends on such restricted stock are non-forfeitable.

[4] There were 0.4 million and 0.2 million options outstanding during the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, that were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per unit because the impact of including such options would be anti-dilutive.