Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Rental and other revenues	$ 178,792	$ 177,283	$ 359,230	$ 346,691
Operating expenses:
Rental property and other expenses	59,663	58,854	119,095	116,250
Depreciation and amortization	56,694	55,816	114,262	111,961
General and administrative	9,540	9,050	21,318	20,540
Total operating expenses	125,897	123,720	254,675	248,751
Interest expense:
Contractual	17,155	15,345	34,860	32,368
Amortization of debt issuance costs	722	809	1,408	1,649
Total interest expense	17,877	16,154	36,268	34,017
Other income:
Interest and other income	462	564	917	1,248
Gains on debt extinguishment	0	826	0	826
Total other income	462	1,390	917	2,074
Income before disposition of investment properties and activity in unconsolidated affiliates	35,480	38,799	69,204	65,997
Gains on disposition of property	16,972	0	16,972	5,332
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	546	755	1,068	1,710
Net income	52,998	39,554	87,244	73,039
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(1,381)	(1,043)	(2,269)	(1,931)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(308)	(299)	(594)	(599)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(623)	(623)	(1,246)	(1,246)
Net income available for common stockholders	$ 50,686	$ 37,589	$ 83,135	$ 69,263
Earnings per Common Share – basic:
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.49	$ 0.37	$ 0.80	$ 0.68
Weighted average Common Shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	103,428	102,475	103,376	102,109
Earnings per Common Share - diluted:
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.49	$ 0.37	$ 0.80	$ 0.68
Weighted average Common Shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)	106,267	105,386	106,216	105,026
Dividends declared per Common Share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.4625	$ 0.440	$ 0.9250	$ 0.88
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Rental and other revenues	$ 178,792	$ 177,283	$ 359,230	$ 346,691
Operating expenses:
Rental property and other expenses	59,663	58,854	119,095	116,250
Depreciation and amortization	56,694	55,816	114,262	111,961
General and administrative	9,540	9,050	21,318	20,540
Total operating expenses	125,897	123,720	254,675	248,751
Interest expense:
Contractual	17,155	15,345	34,860	32,368
Amortization of debt issuance costs	722	809	1,408	1,649
Total interest expense	17,877	16,154	36,268	34,017
Other income:
Interest and other income	462	564	917	1,248
Gains on debt extinguishment	0	826	0	826
Total other income	462	1,390	917	2,074
Income before disposition of investment properties and activity in unconsolidated affiliates	35,480	38,799	69,204	65,997
Gains on disposition of property	16,972	0	16,972	5,332
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	546	755	1,068	1,710
Net income	52,998	39,554	87,244	73,039
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(308)	(299)	(594)	(599)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(623)	(623)	(1,246)	(1,246)
Net income available for common unitholders	$ 52,067	$ 38,632	$ 85,404	$ 71,194
Earnings per Common Unit - basic:
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.49	$ 0.37	$ 0.81	$ 0.68
Weighted average Common Units outstanding - basic (in shares)	105,826	104,900	105,778	104,536
Earnings per Common Unit - diluted:
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.49	$ 0.37	$ 0.81	$ 0.68
Weighted average Common Units outstanding - diluted (in shares)	105,858	104,977	105,807	104,617
Distributions declared per Common Unit (in dollars per unit)	$ 0.4625	$ 0.44	$ 0.9250	$ 0.88