Disclosure About Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Assets:
Mortgages and notes receivable, at fair value	$ 1,292	$ 1,341
Marketable securities of non-qualified deferred compensation plan (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	2,712	2,573
Total Assets	4,004	3,914
Liabilities:
Mortgages and notes payable, net, at fair value	2,554,474	2,639,163
Interest rate swaps (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	650	846
Non-qualified deferred compensation obligation (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	2,712	2,573
Total Liabilities	2,557,836	2,642,582
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)	2,712	2,573
Total Assets	2,712	2,573
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)	2,712	2,573
Total Liabilities	2,712	2,573
Level 2 [Member]
Assets:
Mortgages and notes receivable, at fair value	1,292	1,341
Marketable securities of non-qualified deferred compensation plan (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	0	0
Total Assets	1,292	1,341
Liabilities:
Mortgages and notes payable, net, at fair value	2,554,474	2,639,163
Interest rate swaps (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	650	846
Non-qualified deferred compensation obligation (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	0	0
Total Liabilities	2,555,124	2,640,009
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member]
Assets:
Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership	121,895	112,499
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Assets:
Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership	121,895	112,499
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Assets:
Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership	$ 0	$ 0