Subsequent Events (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands		1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Feb. 04, 2020 $ / shares	Jan. 30, 2020 USD ($) propertyUnit	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) $ / shares
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Gains on disposition of property				$ 39,517	$ 37,638	$ 54,157
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Dividends declared per share of Common Stock (in dollars per share) | $ / shares				$ 1.90	$ 1.85	$ 1.76
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Dividends declared per share of Common Stock (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 0.48
Division Exit [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Purchase price of real estate			$ 436,000
Division Exit [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Number of buildings sold | propertyUnit		35
Purchase price of real estate		$ 193,400
Gains on disposition of property		$ 105,000