Disclosure About Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Assets:
Mortgages and notes receivable, at fair value	$ 1,390		$ 1,501
Marketable securities of non-qualified deferred compensation plan (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	2,259		2,345
Total Assets	3,649		3,846
Liabilities:
Mortgages and notes payable, net, at fair value	2,601,035		2,615,776
Interest rate swaps (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	1,036		154
Non-qualified deferred compensation obligation (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	2,259		2,345
Total Liabilities	2,604,330		2,618,275
Impaired real estate assets		$ 2,100
Level 1 [Member]
Assets:
Mortgages and notes receivable, at fair value	0		0
Marketable securities of non-qualified deferred compensation plan (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	2,259		2,345
Total Assets	2,259		2,345
Liabilities:
Mortgages and notes payable, net, at fair value	0		0
Interest rate swaps (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	0		0
Non-qualified deferred compensation obligation (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	2,259		2,345
Total Liabilities	2,259		2,345
Level 2 [Member]
Assets:
Mortgages and notes receivable, at fair value	1,390		1,501
Marketable securities of non-qualified deferred compensation plan (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	0		0
Total Assets	1,390		1,501
Liabilities:
Mortgages and notes payable, net, at fair value	2,601,035		2,615,776
Interest rate swaps (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	1,036		154
Non-qualified deferred compensation obligation (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	0		0
Total Liabilities	2,602,071		2,615,930
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member]
Assets:
Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership	95,416		133,216
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Assets:
Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership	95,416		133,216
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Assets:
Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership	$ 0		$ 0