Earnings Per Share and Per Unit (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Earnings per Common Share/Unit - basic: [Abstract]
Net income	$ 62,346	$ 29,557	$ 41,394	$ 8,386	$ 55,377	$ 35,009	$ 52,998	$ 34,246	$ 141,683	$ 177,630	$ 191,663
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership									(3,551)	(4,588)	(5,059)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(295)	(297)	(306)	(316)	(289)	(324)	(308)	(286)	(1,214)	(1,207)	(1,239)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(622)	(622)	(622)	(622)	(623)	(623)	(623)	(623)	(2,488)	(2,492)	(2,492)
Net income available for common stockholders	$ 59,852	$ 27,901	$ 39,422	$ 7,255	$ 53,048	$ 33,160	$ 50,686	$ 32,449	$ 134,430	$ 169,343	$ 182,873
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Share - weighted average shares (in shares)									103,692	103,439	102,682
Earnings per Common Share - basic:
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.58	$ 0.27	$ 0.38	$ 0.07	$ 0.51	$ 0.32	$ 0.49	$ 0.31	$ 1.30	$ 1.64	$ 1.78
Earnings per Common Share/Unit - diluted: [Abstract]
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	$ (295)	$ (297)	$ (306)	$ (316)	$ (289)	$ (324)	$ (308)	$ (286)	$ (1,214)	$ (1,207)	$ (1,239)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	$ (622)	$ (622)	$ (622)	$ (622)	$ (623)	$ (623)	$ (623)	$ (623)	(2,488)	(2,492)	(2,492)
Net income available for common stockholders before net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership									$ 137,981	$ 173,931	$ 187,932
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Share - weighted average shares (in shares)									103,692	103,439	102,682
Stock options using the treasury method									22	33	79
Noncontrolling interests Common Units									2,731	2,796	2,833
Denominator for diluted earnings per Common Share - adjusted weighted average shares and assumed conversions (in shares)									106,445	106,268	105,594
Earnings per Common Share - diluted:
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.58	$ 0.27	$ 0.38	$ 0.07	$ 0.51	$ 0.32	$ 0.49	$ 0.31	$ 1.30	$ 1.64	$ 1.78
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Earnings per Common Share/Unit - basic: [Abstract]
Net income	$ 62,346	$ 29,557	$ 41,394	$ 8,386	$ 55,377	$ 35,009	$ 52,998	$ 34,246	$ 141,683	$ 177,630	$ 191,663
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(295)	(297)	(306)	(316)	(289)	(324)	(308)	(286)	(1,214)	(1,207)	(1,239)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(622)	(622)	(622)	(622)	(623)	(623)	(623)	(623)	(2,488)	(2,492)	(2,492)
Net income available for common unitholders	$ 61,429	$ 28,638	$ 40,466	$ 7,448	$ 54,465	$ 34,062	$ 52,067	$ 33,337	$ 137,981	$ 173,931	$ 187,932
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Unit - weighted average units (in shares)									106,014	105,826	105,106
Earnings per Common Unit - basic:
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.58	$ 0.27	$ 0.38	$ 0.07	$ 0.51	$ 0.32	$ 0.49	$ 0.32	$ 1.30	$ 1.64	$ 1.79
Earnings per Common Share/Unit - diluted: [Abstract]
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	$ (295)	$ (297)	$ (306)	$ (316)	$ (289)	$ (324)	$ (308)	$ (286)	$ (1,214)	$ (1,207)	$ (1,239)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(622)	(622)	(622)	(622)	(623)	(623)	(623)	(623)	(2,488)	(2,492)	(2,492)
Net income available for common unitholders	$ 61,429	$ 28,638	$ 40,466	$ 7,448	$ 54,465	$ 34,062	$ 52,067	$ 33,337	$ 137,981	$ 173,931	$ 187,932
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Unit - weighted average units (in shares)									106,014	105,826	105,106
Stock options using the treasury method									22	33	79
Denominator for diluted earnings per Common Unit - adjusted weighted average units and assumed conversions (in shares)									106,036	105,859	105,185
Earnings per Common Unit - diluted:
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.58	$ 0.27	$ 0.38	$ 0.07	$ 0.51	$ 0.32	$ 0.49	$ 0.32	$ 1.30	$ 1.64	$ 1.79