Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)
Operating activities:
Net income	$ 141,683	$ 177,630	$ 191,663
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	254,504	229,955	227,832
Amortization of lease incentives and acquisition-related intangible assets and liabilities	(505)	(1,943)	(1,172)
Share-based compensation expense	7,180	7,466	6,692
Credit losses on operating lease receivables	9,861	1,212	1,508
Write-off of mortgages and notes receivable	4,087	0	0
Accrued interest on mortgages and notes receivable	(184)	(451)	(509)
Amortization of debt issuance costs	2,970	2,857	3,166
Amortization of cash flow hedges	(1,250)	(2,086)	1,157
Amortization of mortgages and notes payable fair value adjustments	1,619	1,449	705
Impairments of real estate assets	5,849	423	1,445
Losses on debt extinguishment	640	0	26
Net gains on disposition of property	(39,517)	(37,638)	(54,157)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(3,276)	(2,238)	(7,404)
Distributions of earnings from unconsolidated affiliates	1,149	2,104	5,078
Settlement of cash flow hedges	(11,749)	7,216	7,322
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	(3,271)	1,759	(4,974)
Prepaid expenses and other assets	1,610	1,217	7,908
Accrued straight-line rents receivable	(29,828)	(23,203)	(32,234)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	24,225	(7,101)	(1,520)
Net cash provided by operating activities	365,797	358,628	352,532
Investing activities:
Investments in acquired real estate and related intangible assets, net of cash acquired	(424,222)	(50,649)	(1,840)
Investments in development in-process	(116,111)	(150,310)	(150,944)
Investments in tenant improvements and deferred leasing costs	(138,754)	(121,534)	(109,742)
Investments in building improvements	(53,826)	(68,256)	(63,780)
Net proceeds from disposition of real estate assets	133,326	88,813	129,503
Distributions of capital from unconsolidated affiliates	7,833	105	11,670
Repayments of mortgages and notes receivable	295	1,312	2,917
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	(9,977)	0	(10,063)
Changes in other investing activities	(5,971)	(6,230)	(8,023)
Net cash used in investing activities	(607,407)	(306,749)	(200,302)
Financing activities:
Dividends on Common Stock	(196,935)	(191,302)	(180,805)
Special dividend on Common Stock	0	0	(81,205)
Redemptions/repurchases of Preferred Stock	(18)	(15)	(28)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(2,488)	(2,492)	(2,492)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(5,189)	(5,167)	(4,987)
Special distribution to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	0	0	(2,271)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(1,767)	(1,047)	(1,784)
Proceeds from the issuance of Common Stock	2,086	3,637	76,268
Costs paid for the issuance of Common Stock	0	(95)	(1,283)
Repurchase of shares related to tax withholdings	(1,788)	(1,677)	(4,008)
Borrowings on revolving credit facility	604,600	438,900	780,300
Repayments of revolving credit facility	(565,600)	(501,900)	(535,300)
Borrowings on mortgages and notes payable	747,990	345,863	656,001
Repayments of mortgages and notes payable	(326,876)	(211,803)	(832,553)
Payments of debt extinguishment costs	0	0	(57)
Changes in debt issuance costs and other financing activities	(7,806)	(2,971)	(8,324)
Net cash provided by/(used in) financing activities	246,209	(130,069)	(142,528)
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash	4,599	(78,190)	9,702
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of the period	10,143	88,333	78,631
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of the period	14,742	10,143	88,333
Reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash:
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period	9,505	3,769	3,272
Restricted cash at end of the period	5,237	6,374	85,061
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest, net of amounts capitalized	72,014	67,235	68,207
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities:
Unrealized gains on cash flow hedges	(9,134)	4,161	1,732
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock	663	4,043	511
Changes in accrued capital expenditures	5,625	(165)	(1,912)
Write-off of fully depreciated real estate assets	85,727	76,558	59,108
Write-off of fully amortized leasing costs	45,042	34,191	40,517
Write-off of fully amortized debt issuance costs	1,791	2,733	11,724
Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership to fair value	29,557	(33,427)	(354)
Contingent consideration in connection with the acquisition of land	1,200	0	750
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	4,987	0	0
Initial recognition of lease liabilities related to right of use assets	35,349	0	0
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Operating activities:
Net income	141,683	177,630	191,663
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	254,504	229,955	227,832
Amortization of lease incentives and acquisition-related intangible assets and liabilities	(505)	(1,943)	(1,172)
Share-based compensation expense	7,180	7,466	6,692
Credit losses on operating lease receivables	9,861	1,212	1,508
Write-off of mortgages and notes receivable	4,087	0	0
Accrued interest on mortgages and notes receivable	(184)	(451)	(509)
Amortization of debt issuance costs	2,970	2,857	3,166
Amortization of cash flow hedges	(1,250)	(2,086)	1,157
Amortization of mortgages and notes payable fair value adjustments	1,619	1,449	705
Impairments of real estate assets	5,849	423	1,445
Losses on debt extinguishment	640	0	26
Net gains on disposition of property	(39,517)	(37,638)	(54,157)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(3,276)	(2,238)	(7,404)
Distributions of earnings from unconsolidated affiliates	1,149	2,104	5,078
Settlement of cash flow hedges	(11,749)	7,216	7,322
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	(3,271)	1,759	(4,974)
Prepaid expenses and other assets	1,610	1,217	7,908
Accrued straight-line rents receivable	(29,828)	(23,203)	(32,234)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	24,225	(7,101)	(1,520)
Net cash provided by operating activities	365,797	358,628	352,532
Investing activities:
Investments in acquired real estate and related intangible assets, net of cash acquired	(424,222)	(50,649)	(1,840)
Investments in development in-process	(116,111)	(150,310)	(150,944)
Investments in tenant improvements and deferred leasing costs	(138,754)	(121,534)	(109,742)
Investments in building improvements	(53,826)	(68,256)	(63,780)
Net proceeds from disposition of real estate assets	133,326	88,813	129,503
Distributions of capital from unconsolidated affiliates	7,833	105	11,670
Repayments of mortgages and notes receivable	295	1,312	2,917
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	(9,977)	0	(10,063)
Changes in other investing activities	(5,971)	(6,230)	(8,023)
Net cash used in investing activities	(607,407)	(306,749)	(200,302)
Financing activities:
Distributions on Common Units	(201,347)	(195,712)	(185,072)
Special distribution on Common Units	0	0	(83,149)
Redemptions/repurchases of Preferred Units	(18)	(15)	(28)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(2,488)	(2,492)	(2,492)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(1,767)	(1,047)	(1,784)
Proceeds from the issuance of Common Units	2,086	3,637	76,268
Costs paid for the issuance of Common Units	0	(95)	(1,283)
Repurchase of units related to tax withholdings	(1,788)	(1,677)	(4,008)
Borrowings on revolving credit facility	604,600	438,900	780,300
Repayments of revolving credit facility	(565,600)	(501,900)	(535,300)
Borrowings on mortgages and notes payable	747,990	345,863	656,001
Repayments of mortgages and notes payable	(326,876)	(211,803)	(832,553)
Payments of debt extinguishment costs	0	0	(57)
Changes in debt issuance costs and other financing activities	(8,583)	(3,728)	(9,371)
Net cash provided by/(used in) financing activities	246,209	(130,069)	(142,528)
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash	4,599	(78,190)	9,702
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of the period	10,143	88,333	78,631
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of the period	14,742	10,143	88,333
Reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash:
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period	9,505	3,769	3,272
Restricted cash at end of the period	5,237	6,374	85,061
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest, net of amounts capitalized	72,014	67,235	68,207
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities:
Unrealized gains on cash flow hedges	(9,134)	4,161	1,732
Changes in accrued capital expenditures	5,625	(165)	(1,912)
Write-off of fully depreciated real estate assets	85,727	76,558	59,108
Write-off of fully amortized leasing costs	45,042	34,191	40,517
Write-off of fully amortized debt issuance costs	1,791	2,733	11,724
Adjustment of Redeemable Common Units to fair value	27,256	(38,049)	(793)
Contingent consideration in connection with the acquisition of land	1,200	0	750
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	4,987	0	0
Initial recognition of lease liabilities related to right of use assets	$ 35,349	$ 0	$ 0