Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items]
Rental and other revenues	$ 192,071	$ 187,475	$ 184,070	$ 172,363	$ 181,388	$ 179,417	$ 178,792	$ 180,438	$ 735,979	$ 720,035	$ 702,737
Net income	62,346	29,557	41,394	8,386	55,377	35,009	52,998	34,246	141,683	177,630	191,663
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(1,577)	(737)	(1,044)	(193)	(1,417)	(902)	(1,381)	(888)	(3,551)	(4,588)	(5,059)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(295)	(297)	(306)	(316)	(289)	(324)	(308)	(286)	(1,214)	(1,207)	(1,239)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(622)	(622)	(622)	(622)	(623)	(623)	(623)	(623)	(2,488)	(2,492)	(2,492)
Net income available for common stockholders	$ 59,852	$ 27,901	$ 39,422	$ 7,255	$ 53,048	$ 33,160	$ 50,686	$ 32,449	$ 134,430	$ 169,343	$ 182,873
Earnings per Common Share - basic:
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.58	$ 0.27	$ 0.38	$ 0.07	$ 0.51	$ 0.32	$ 0.49	$ 0.31	$ 1.30	$ 1.64	$ 1.78
Earnings per Common Share - diluted:
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.58	$ 0.27	$ 0.38	$ 0.07	$ 0.51	$ 0.32	$ 0.49	$ 0.31	$ 1.30	$ 1.64	$ 1.78
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member]
Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items]
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership									$ (3,551)	$ (4,588)
Net income available for common stockholders									134,430	169,343	$ 182,873
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items]
Rental and other revenues	$ 192,071	$ 187,475	$ 184,070	$ 172,363	$ 181,388	$ 179,417	$ 178,792	$ 180,438	735,979	720,035	702,737
Net income	62,346	29,557	41,394	8,386	55,377	35,009	52,998	34,246	141,683	177,630	191,663
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(295)	(297)	(306)	(316)	(289)	(324)	(308)	(286)	(1,214)	(1,207)	(1,239)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(622)	(622)	(622)	(622)	(623)	(623)	(623)	(623)	(2,488)	(2,492)	(2,492)
Net income available for common unitholders	$ 61,429	$ 28,638	$ 40,466	$ 7,448	$ 54,465	$ 34,062	$ 52,067	$ 33,337	$ 137,981	$ 173,931	$ 187,932
Earnings per Common Unit - basic:
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.58	$ 0.27	$ 0.38	$ 0.07	$ 0.51	$ 0.32	$ 0.49	$ 0.32	$ 1.30	$ 1.64	$ 1.79
Earnings per Common Unit - diluted:
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.58	$ 0.27	$ 0.38	$ 0.07	$ 0.51	$ 0.32	$ 0.49	$ 0.32	$ 1.30	$ 1.64	$ 1.79