Income Taxes (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member]
Income Tax Disclosure [Line Items]
Minimum dividend required to maintain REIT status (in dollars per share)	$ 1.44	$ 1.26	$ 1.37
Tax basis of assets	$ 4,700,000	$ 4,300,000
Tax basis of liabilities	2,900,000	2,300,000
Increase to tax expense due to Tax Cuts and Jobs Act			$ 100
Income Tax Expense/(Benefit) [Abstract]
Current federal tax expense/(benefit)	202	133	(177)
Current state tax expense	148	112	105
Current tax expense/(benefit)	350	245	(72)
Deferred federal tax expense/(benefit)	14	(95)	223
Deferred state tax benefit	(120)	(68)	(9)
Deferred tax expense/(benefit)	(106)	(163)	214
Total income tax expense	244	82	$ 142
Net deferred tax liabilities	100	200
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Income Tax Disclosure [Line Items]
Tax basis of assets	4,700,000	4,200,000
Tax basis of liabilities	$ 2,900,000	$ 2,300,000