Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended												12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016		Sep. 30, 2016		Jun. 30, 2016		Mar. 31, 2016		Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016		Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items]
Rental and other revenues	$ 167,646		$ 166,269		$ 166,860		$ 164,859		$ 160,126	$ 150,766	$ 148,543	$ 145,236	$ 665,634		$ 604,671	$ 555,871
Income from continuing operations	27,036		33,840		33,528		28,142		19,028	27,352	22,221	16,920	122,546		85,521	96,987
Total income from discontinued operations	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]	418,593	[1]	2,889	4,265	4,670	3,915	418,593	[1]	15,739	18,985
Net income	27,036		33,840		33,528		446,735		21,917	31,617	26,891	20,835	541,139		101,260	115,972
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(720)		(926)		(939)		(13,011)		(622)	(918)	(782)	(596)	(15,596)		(2,918)	(3,542)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(312)		(319)		(314)		(308)		(316)	(324)	(328)	(296)	(1,253)		(1,264)	(1,466)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(624)		(624)		(627)		(626)		(627)	(626)	(626)	(627)	(2,501)		(2,506)	(2,507)
Net income available for common stockholders	$ 25,380		$ 31,971		$ 31,648		$ 432,790		$ 20,352	$ 29,749	$ 25,155	$ 19,316	$ 521,789		$ 94,572	$ 108,457
Earnings per Common Share - basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.25		$ 0.32		$ 0.32		$ 0.27		$ 0.18	$ 0.27	$ 0.22	$ 0.17	$ 1.17		$ 0.84	$ 1.00
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	0.00		0.00		0.00		4.22		0.03	0.04	0.05	0.04	4.13		0.16	0.20
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	0.25		0.32		0.32		4.49		0.21	0.31	0.27	0.21	5.30		1.00	1.20
Earnings per Common Share - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	0.25		0.32		0.32		0.27		0.18	0.27	0.22	0.17	1.17		0.84	0.99
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	0.00		0.00		0.00		4.22		0.03	0.04	0.05	0.04	4.13		0.16	0.20
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.25		$ 0.32		$ 0.32		$ 4.49		$ 0.21	$ 0.31	$ 0.27	$ 0.21	$ 5.30		$ 1.00	$ 1.19
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member]
Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items]
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership													$ (15,596)		$ (2,918)
Net income available for common stockholders													521,789		94,572	$ 108,457
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items]
Rental and other revenues	$ 167,646		$ 166,269		$ 166,860		$ 164,859		$ 160,126	$ 150,766	$ 148,543	$ 145,236	665,634		604,671	555,871
Income from continuing operations	27,036		33,840		33,528		28,142		19,028	27,352	22,221	16,920	122,546		85,521	96,987
Total income from discontinued operations	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]	418,593	[1]	2,889	4,265	4,670	3,915	418,593	[1]	15,739	18,985
Net income	27,036		33,840		33,528		446,735		21,917	31,617	26,891	20,835	541,139		101,260	115,972
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(312)		(319)		(314)		(308)		(316)	(324)	(328)	(296)	(1,253)		(1,264)	(1,466)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(624)		(624)		(627)		(626)		(627)	(626)	(626)	(627)	(2,501)		(2,506)	(2,507)
Net income available for common unitholders	$ 26,100		$ 32,897		$ 32,587		$ 445,801		$ 20,974	$ 30,667	$ 25,937	$ 19,912	$ 537,385		$ 97,490	$ 111,999
Earnings per Common Unit - basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.25		$ 0.32		$ 0.33		$ 0.28		$ 0.18	$ 0.27	$ 0.22	$ 0.17	$ 1.18		$ 0.84	$ 1.00
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	0.00		0.00		0.00		4.23		0.03	0.05	0.05	0.04	4.15		0.17	0.20
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	0.25		0.32		0.33		4.51		0.21	0.32	0.27	0.21	5.33		1.01	1.20
Earnings per Common Unit - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	0.25		0.32		0.33		0.28		0.18	0.27	0.22	0.17	1.18		0.84	1.00
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	0.00		0.00		0.00		4.23		0.03	0.05	0.05	0.04	4.14		0.17	0.20
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.25		$ 0.32		$ 0.33		$ 4.51		$ 0.21	$ 0.32	$ 0.27	$ 0.21	$ 5.32		$ 1.01	$ 1.20

[1] See Note 2 for a discussion regarding the sales of the Plaza assets.