Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($) a ft² shares	Mar. 31, 2019 USD ($) ft²	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($) a ft² shares	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($)
Description of Business [Abstract]
Rentable square feet of commercial real estate properties (in sq feet) | ft²	31,100,000			31,100,000
Rentable square feet of commercial real estate office properties under development (in sq feet) | ft²	1,200,000			1,200,000
Undeveloped land suitable for future development (in acres) | a	325			325
Real estate assets, depreciation expense	$ 50,100		$ 46,900	$ 108,400	$ 94,300
Self insurance liability	600			600
Credit losses on operating lease receivables				8,144	192
Write-offs of lease incentives				868	(960)
Write-offs of notes receivable				4,087	0
Write-offs of tenant improvements and deferred leasing costs	$ 59,460		56,694	$ 128,664	114,262
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member]
Description of Business [Abstract]
Common Units of partnership owned by the Company (in shares) | shares	103,300,000			103,300,000
Percentage of ownership of Common Units (in hundredths)	97.40%			97.40%
Common Units redeemed for a like number of common shares of stock (in shares) | shares				8,000
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Description of Business [Abstract]
Common Units of partnership not owned by the Company (in shares) | shares	2,700,000			2,700,000
Credit losses on operating lease receivables				$ 8,144	192
Write-offs of lease incentives				868	(960)
Write-offs of notes receivable				4,087	0
Write-offs of tenant improvements and deferred leasing costs	$ 59,460		$ 56,694	$ 128,664	$ 114,262
Building [Member]
Description of Business [Abstract]
Property, plant and equipment useful life				40 years
Building Improvements [Member]
Description of Business [Abstract]
Property, plant and equipment useful life				15 years
Furniture and Fixtures [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Description of Business [Abstract]
Property, plant and equipment useful life				5 years
Furniture and Fixtures [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Description of Business [Abstract]
Property, plant and equipment useful life				7 years
Leaseholds and Leasehold Improvements [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Description of Business [Abstract]
Property, plant and equipment useful life				3 years
Leaseholds and Leasehold Improvements [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Description of Business [Abstract]
Property, plant and equipment useful life				10 years
LSI Ceased Operations [Member]
Description of Business [Abstract]
Rentable square feet of commercial real estate properties (in sq feet) | ft²		176,000
Credit losses on operating lease receivables		$ 5,600
Write-offs of lease incentives		2,300
Write-offs of notes receivable		4,100
Write-offs of tenant improvements and deferred leasing costs		$ 11,600