Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Real estate assets, at cost:
Land	$ 493,426	$ 485,956
Buildings and tenant improvements	4,671,689	4,590,490
Development in-process	166,849	88,452
Land held for development	125,488	74,765
Total real estate assets	5,457,452	5,239,663
Less-accumulated depreciation	(1,280,910)	(1,202,424)
Net real estate assets	4,176,542	4,037,239
Real estate and other assets, net, held for sale	0	14,118
Cash and cash equivalents	5,324	3,272
Restricted cash	6,955	85,061
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $1,269 and $753, respectively	24,187	24,397
Mortgages and notes receivable, net of allowance of $52 and $72, respectively	5,659	6,425
Accrued straight-line rents receivable, net of allowance of $726 and $819, respectively	218,111	200,131
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	23,371	23,897
Deferred leasing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $147,588 and $143,512, respectively	193,796	200,679
Prepaid expenses and other assets, net of accumulated depreciation of $20,033 and $19,092, respectively	34,466	28,572
Total Assets	4,688,411	4,623,791
Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Capital:
Mortgages and notes payable, net	2,087,421	2,014,333
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	229,912	228,215
Total Liabilities	2,317,333	2,242,548
Commitments and contingencies
Noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	132,447	144,009
Equity/Capital:
Preferred Stock, $.01 par value, 50,000,000 authorized shares; 8.625% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares (liquidation preference $1,000 per share), 28,887 and 28,892 shares issued and outstanding, respectively	28,887	28,892
Common Stock, $.01 par value, 200,000,000 authorized shares; 103,488,326 and 103,266,875 shares issued and outstanding, respectively	1,035	1,033
Additional paid-in capital	2,948,320	2,929,399
Distributions in excess of net income available for common stockholders	(774,484)	(747,344)
Accumulated other comprehensive income	17,489	7,838
Total Stockholders’ Equity	2,221,247	2,219,818
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	17,384	17,416
Total Equity/Capital	2,238,631	2,237,234
Total Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Total Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Capital	4,688,411	4,623,791
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Real estate assets, at cost:
Land	493,426	485,956
Buildings and tenant improvements	4,671,689	4,590,490
Development in-process	166,849	88,452
Land held for development	125,488	74,765
Total real estate assets	5,457,452	5,239,663
Less-accumulated depreciation	(1,280,910)	(1,202,424)
Net real estate assets	4,176,542	4,037,239
Real estate and other assets, net, held for sale	0	14,118
Cash and cash equivalents	5,324	3,272
Restricted cash	6,955	85,061
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $1,269 and $753, respectively	24,187	24,397
Mortgages and notes receivable, net of allowance of $52 and $72, respectively	5,659	6,425
Accrued straight-line rents receivable, net of allowance of $726 and $819, respectively	218,111	200,131
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	23,371	23,897
Deferred leasing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $147,588 and $143,512, respectively	193,796	200,679
Prepaid expenses and other assets, net of accumulated depreciation of $20,033 and $19,092, respectively	34,466	28,572
Total Assets	4,688,411	4,623,791
Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Capital:
Mortgages and notes payable, net	2,087,421	2,014,333
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	229,912	228,215
Total Liabilities	2,317,333	2,242,548
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable Operating Partnership Units:
Common Units, 2,802,508 and 2,828,704 outstanding, respectively	132,447	144,009
Series A Preferred Units (liquidation preference $1,000 per unit), 28,887 and 28,892 units issued and outstanding, respectively	28,887	28,892
Total Redeemable Operating Partnership Units	161,334	172,901
Equity/Capital:
General partner Common Units, 1,058,820 and 1,056,868 outstanding, respectively	21,749	21,830
Limited partner Common Units, 102,020,697 and 101,801,198 outstanding, respectively	2,153,122	2,161,258
Accumulated other comprehensive income	17,489	7,838
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	17,384	17,416
Total Equity/Capital	2,209,744	2,208,342
Total Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Total Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Capital	$ 4,688,411	$ 4,623,791