Earnings Per Share and Per Unit (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Earnings per Common Share and Per Unit - basic: [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations		$ 33,840	$ 27,352	$ 95,510	$ 66,493
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership from continuing operations		(926)	(790)	(2,611)	(1,907)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates from continuing operations		(319)	(324)	(941)	(948)
Dividends on Preferred Stock		(624)	(626)	(1,877)	(1,879)
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders		31,971	25,612	90,081	61,759
Income from discontinued operations		0	4,265	418,593	12,850
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership from discontinued operations		0	(128)	(12,265)	(389)
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders		0	4,137	406,328	12,461
Net income available for common stockholders		$ 31,971	$ 29,749	$ 496,409	$ 74,220
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Share - weighted average shares (in shares)		98,973	94,693	97,669	93,996
Earnings per Common Share - basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)		$ 0.32	$ 0.27	$ 0.92	$ 0.66
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)		0.00	0.04	4.16	0.13
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)		$ 0.32	$ 0.31	$ 5.08	$ 0.79
Earnings per Common Share and Per Unit - diluted: [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations		$ 33,840	$ 27,352	$ 95,510	$ 66,493
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates		(319)	(324)	(941)	(948)
Dividends on Preferred Stock		(624)	(626)	(1,877)	(1,879)
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders before net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership		32,897	26,402	92,692	63,666
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders		0	4,265	418,593	12,850
Net income available for common stockholders before net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership		$ 32,897	$ 30,667	$ 511,285	$ 76,516
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Share - weighted average shares (in shares)		98,973	94,693	97,669	93,996
Stock options using the treasury method (in shares)		108	58	94	89
Noncontrolling interests Common Units (in shares)		2,858	2,910	2,882	2,918
Denominator for diluted earnings per Common Share - adjusted weighted average shares and assumed conversions (in shares)	[1]	101,939	97,661	100,645	97,003
Earnings per Common Share - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)		$ 0.32	$ 0.27	$ 0.92	$ 0.66
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)		0.00	0.04	4.16	0.13
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)		$ 0.32	$ 0.31	$ 5.08	$ 0.79
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Earnings per Common Share and Per Unit - basic: [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations		$ 33,840	$ 27,352	$ 95,510	$ 66,493
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates from continuing operations		(319)	(324)	(941)	(948)
Distributions on Preferred Units		(624)	(626)	(1,877)	(1,879)
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders		32,897	26,402	92,692	63,666
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders		0	4,265	418,593	12,850
Net income available for common unitholders		$ 32,897	$ 30,667	$ 511,285	$ 76,516
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Unit - weighted average units (in shares)		101,422	97,194	100,142	96,505
Earnings per Common Unit - basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)		$ 0.32	$ 0.27	$ 0.93	$ 0.66
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)		0.00	0.05	4.18	0.13
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)		$ 0.32	$ 0.32	$ 5.11	$ 0.79
Earnings per Common Share and Per Unit - diluted: [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations		$ 33,840	$ 27,352	$ 95,510	$ 66,493
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates		(319)	(324)	(941)	(948)
Distributions on Preferred Units		(624)	(626)	(1,877)	(1,879)
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders		32,897	26,402	92,692	63,666
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders		0	4,265	418,593	12,850
Net income available for common unitholders		$ 32,897	$ 30,667	$ 511,285	$ 76,516
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Unit - weighted average units (in shares)		101,422	97,194	100,142	96,505
Stock options using the treasury method (in shares)		108	58	94	89
Denominator for diluted earnings per Common Unit - adjusted weighted average units and assumed conversions (in shares)	[2]	101,530	97,252	100,236	96,594
Earnings per Common Unit - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)		$ 0.32	$ 0.27	$ 0.92	$ 0.66
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)		0.00	0.05	4.18	0.13
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)		$ 0.32	$ 0.32	$ 5.10	$ 0.79

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

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