Earnings Per Share and Per Unit (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Earnings per Common Share and Per Unit - basic: [Abstract]
Net income	$ 41,394	$ 52,998	$ 49,780	$ 87,244
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership from continuing operations	(1,044)	(1,381)	(1,237)	(2,269)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates from continuing operations	(306)	(308)	(622)	(594)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(622)	(623)	(1,244)	(1,246)
Net income available for common stockholders	$ 39,422	$ 50,686	$ 46,677	$ 83,135
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Share - weighted average shares (in shares)	103,693	103,428	103,647	103,376
Earnings per Common Share - basic:
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.38	$ 0.49	$ 0.45	$ 0.80
Earnings per Common Share and Per Unit - diluted: [Abstract]
Net income	$ 41,394	$ 52,998	$ 49,780	$ 87,244
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(306)	(308)	(622)	(594)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(622)	(623)	(1,244)	(1,246)
Net income available for common stockholders before net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	$ 40,466	$ 52,067	$ 47,914	$ 85,404
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Share - weighted average shares (in shares)	103,693	103,428	103,647	103,376
Stock options using the treasury method (in shares)	19	32	20	29
Noncontrolling interests Common Units (in shares)	2,733	2,807	2,735	2,811
Denominator for diluted earnings per Common Share - adjusted weighted average shares and assumed conversions (in shares)	106,445	106,267	106,402	106,216
Earnings per Common Share - diluted:
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.38	$ 0.49	$ 0.45	$ 0.80
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Earnings per Common Share and Per Unit - basic: [Abstract]
Net income	$ 41,394	$ 52,998	$ 49,780	$ 87,244
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates from continuing operations	(306)	(308)	(622)	(594)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(622)	(623)	(1,244)	(1,246)
Net income available for common unitholders	$ 40,466	$ 52,067	$ 47,914	$ 85,404
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Unit - weighted average units (in shares)	106,017	105,826	105,973	105,778
Earnings per Common Unit - basic:
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.38	$ 0.49	$ 0.45	$ 0.81
Earnings per Common Share and Per Unit - diluted: [Abstract]
Net income	$ 41,394	$ 52,998	$ 49,780	$ 87,244
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(306)	(308)	(622)	(594)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(622)	(623)	(1,244)	(1,246)
Net income available for common unitholders	$ 40,466	$ 52,067	$ 47,914	$ 85,404
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Unit - weighted average units (in shares)	106,017	105,826	105,973	105,778
Stock options using the treasury method (in shares)	19	32	20	29
Denominator for diluted earnings per Common Unit - adjusted weighted average units and assumed conversions (in shares)	106,036	105,858	105,993	105,807
Earnings per Common Unit - diluted:
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.38	$ 0.49	$ 0.45	$ 0.81