Cover Page - USD ($) $ in Billions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Jan. 24, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Entity Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-K
Document Annual Report	true
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2019
Document Transition Report	false
Entity Registrant Name	HIGHWOODS PROPERTIES, INC.
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	MD
Entity File Number	001-13100
Entity Tax Identification Number	56-1871668
Entity Address, Address Line One	3100 Smoketree Court
Entity Address, Address Line Two	Suite 600
Entity Address, City or Town	Raleigh
Entity Address, State or Province	NC
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	27604
City Area Code	919
Local Phone Number	872-4924
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, $.01 par value, of Highwoods Properties, Inc.
Trading Symbol	HIW
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Public Float			$ 4.2
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		103,783,857
Entity Central Index Key	0000921082
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Amendment Flag	false
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	HIGHWOODS REALTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	NC
Entity File Number	000-21731
Entity Tax Identification Number	56-1869557
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Central Index Key	0000941713
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Amendment Flag	false