Investments In and Advances To Affiliates (Details)		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) property		Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($) property	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 USD ($) a properties
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of equity interest in joint ventures, maximum		50.00%
Assets [Abstract]
Real estate assets, net		$ 163,852,000		$ 239,142,000
All other assets, net		53,511,000		61,290,000
Total Assets		217,363,000		300,432,000
Liabilities and Partners' or Shareholders' Equity [Abstract]
Mortgages and notes payable	[1]	141,580,000		191,587,000
All other liabilities		6,547,000		11,967,000
Partners' or shareholders' equity		69,236,000		96,878,000
Total Liabilities and Partners' or Shareholders' Equity		217,363,000		300,432,000
Our share of historical partners' or shareholders' equity		21,022,000		30,784,000
Advances to unconsolidated affiliate		448,000		20,864,000
Difference between cost of investments and the net book value of underlying net assets		(794,000)		(963,000)
Carrying value of investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates		20,676,000		50,685,000
Our share of unconsolidated non-recourse mortgage debt		49,242,000	[1]	60,972,000
Scheduled future principal payments [Abstract]
2016		4,407,000
2017		20,817,000
2018		19,580,000
2019		563,000
2020		562,000
Thereafter		3,313,000
Total scheduled future principal payments		49,242,000	[1]	60,972,000
Income Statement [Abstract]
Rental and other revenues		48,118,000		50,514,000	$ 82,168,000
Expenses:
Rental property and other expenses		22,721,000		25,159,000	41,284,000
Depreciation and amortization		12,257,000		13,310,000	20,928,000
Impairments of real estate assets		0		0	20,077,000
Interest expense		7,196,000		8,847,000	14,994,000
Total expenses		42,174,000		47,316,000	97,283,000
Income/(loss) before disposition of property		5,944,000		3,198,000	(15,115,000)
Gains on disposition of property		18,181,000		2,998,000	20,501,000
Net income		24,125,000		6,196,000	5,386,000
Net gain on disposition of property		18,181,000		2,998,000	20,501,000
Impairments of real estate assets		0		0	20,077,000
Development, management and leasing fees revenue		1,400,000		1,200,000	2,900,000
Receivables from management and leasing fees		$ 100,000		500,000
Consolidated Affiliates:
Joint venture partner's interest in unconsolidated affiliate (in hundredths)		80.00%
Gain recorded on disposition of investment in unconsolidated affiliate		$ 4,155,000		$ 0	$ 0
Concourse Center Associates, LLC Joint Venture [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of equity interest in joint ventures, maximum		50.00%
Plaza Colonnade, LLC Joint Venture [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of equity interest in joint ventures, maximum		50.00%
Lofts at Weston, LLC Joint Venture [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of equity interest in joint ventures, maximum					50.00%
Expenses:
Gains on disposition of property					$ 12,200,000		$ 300,000
Gross proceeds received from disposition of property					38,300,000
Contribution of land (in acres) | a							15.0
Contribution of property to unconsolidated affiliate							$ 2,400,000
Payments to acquire interest in joint venture by partner							1,200,000
Distribution by joint venture for land contribution					9,400,000		$ 1,200,000
Residential units (in units) | properties							215
Total cost to construct residential units							$ 25,900,000
Income tax expense netted against gain on equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates					1,700,000
Net gain on disposition of property					12,200,000		$ 300,000
Our proportionate share of gain on disposition of property					3,200,000
Board of Trade Investment Company Joint Venture [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of equity interest in joint ventures, maximum				49.00%
Expenses:
Gains on disposition of property				$ 1,900,000
Gross proceeds received from disposition of property				8,300,000
Net gain on disposition of property				1,900,000
Our proportionate share of impairment of assets in discontinued operations				400,000
Aggregate distributions received				4,700,000
Highwoods DLF 97/26 DLF 99/32, LP Joint Venture [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of equity interest in joint ventures, maximum		42.90%
Expenses:
Gains on disposition of property		$ 2,100,000			100,000
Gross proceeds received from disposition of property		7,000,000			$ 10,100,000
Number of buildings sold | property					2
Closing credits included for free rent					$ 300,000
Net gain on disposition of property		2,100,000			100,000
Our proportionate share of gain on disposition of property		1,100,000			$ 400,000
Highwoods KC Glenridge Office, LLC Joint Venture [Member]
Expenses:
Gains on disposition of property		2,400,000
Gross proceeds received from disposition of property		$ 24,500,000
Joint venture principal amount of debt				$ 14,900,000.0
Current fixed interest rate (in hundredths)				4.84%
Number of buildings sold | property		2
Closing credits for unfunded tenant improvements		$ 300,000
Net gain on disposition of property		2,400,000
Our proportionate share of gain on disposition of property		$ 900,000
HIW-KC Orlando, LLC Joint Venture [Member]
Expenses:
Percentage of equity interest acquired in unconsolidated affiliate (in hundredths)					60.00%
Kessinger Hunter, LLC Joint Venture [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of equity interest in joint ventures, maximum		26.50%
Expenses:
Amount of related party transaction		$ 300,000		$ 600,000	$ 200,000
Highwoods DLF Forum, LLC Joint Venture [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of equity interest in joint ventures, maximum		25.00%
Expenses:
Joint venture principal amount of debt					$ 71,700,000
Term of debt instrument (in years)					5 years
Floating interest rate, interest rate basis					LIBOR plus 190 basis points
Current floating interest rate (in hundredths)					1.90%
Scheduled maturity date					Nov. 01, 2018
Highwoods DLF 98/29, LLC Joint Venture [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of equity interest in joint ventures, maximum		22.80%
Expenses:
Impairments of real estate assets					$ 20,100,000
Gains on disposition of property		$ 13,700,000		1,000,000	100,000
Gross proceeds received from disposition of property				13,700,000	5,900,000
Closing credits included for free rent				400,000	100,000
Net gain on disposition of property		13,700,000		1,000,000	100,000
Our proportionate share of impairment of assets in discontinued operations					4,500,000
Our proportionate share of gain on disposition of property		$ 3,100,000		$ 200,000	100,000
Impairments of real estate assets					$ 20,100,000
4600 Madison Associates, LLC Joint Venture [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of equity interest in joint ventures, maximum		12.50%
Highwoods-Markel Associates, LLC Joint Venture [Member]
Consolidated Affiliates:
Percentage of equity interest in consolidated affiliates		50.00%
Fair value of noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliate		$ 19,400,000
SF-Harborview Plaza, LP Joint Venture [Member]
Expenses:
Gross proceeds received from disposition of property		$ 6,900,000
Scheduled maturity date						Sep. 30, 2015
Consolidated Affiliates:
Percentage of equity interest in consolidated affiliates		20.00%
Gain recorded on disposition of investment in unconsolidated affiliate		$ 4,200,000
Advance to consolidated affiliate		$ 20,800,000				$ 20,800,000
Term of debt instrument (in years)						3 years

[1] Our share of scheduled future principal payments, including amortization, due on mortgages and notes payable at December 31, 2015 is as follows:2016$4,407201720,817201819,58020195632020562Thereafter3,313 $49,242 All of this joint venture debt is non-recourse to us except in the case of customary exceptions pertaining to such matters as misuse of funds, environmental conditions, material misrepresentations and voluntary or uncontested involuntary bankruptcy events.