Earnings Per Share and Per Unit (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Earnings per Common Share and Per Unit - basic: [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations		$ 33,528	$ 22,221	$ 61,670	$ 39,141
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership from continuing operations		(939)	(641)	(1,685)	(1,117)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates from continuing operations		(314)	(328)	(622)	(624)
Dividends on Preferred Stock		(627)	(626)	(1,253)	(1,253)
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders		31,648	20,626	58,110	36,147
Income from discontinued operations		0	4,670	418,593	8,585
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership from discontinued operations		0	(141)	(12,265)	(261)
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders		0	4,529	406,328	8,324
Net income available for common stockholders		$ 31,648	$ 25,155	$ 464,438	$ 44,471
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Share - weighted average shares (in shares)		97,648	94,055	97,010	93,641
Earnings per Common Share - basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)		$ 0.32	$ 0.22	$ 0.60	$ 0.39
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)		0.00	0.05	4.19	0.08
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)		$ 0.32	$ 0.27	$ 4.79	$ 0.47
Earnings per Common Share and Per Unit - diluted: [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations		$ 33,528	$ 22,221	$ 61,670	$ 39,141
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates		(314)	(328)	(622)	(624)
Dividends on Preferred Stock		(627)	(626)	(1,253)	(1,253)
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders before net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership		32,587	21,267	59,795	37,264
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders		0	4,670	418,593	8,585
Net income available for common stockholders before net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership		$ 32,587	$ 25,937	$ 478,388	$ 45,849
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Share - weighted average shares (in shares)		97,648	94,055	97,010	93,641
Stock options using the treasury method		90	84	87	104
Noncontrolling interests Common Units		2,890	2,910	2,895	2,921
Denominator for diluted earnings per Common Share - adjusted weighted average shares and assumed conversions (in shares)	[1]	100,628	97,049	99,992	96,666
Earnings per Common Share - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)		$ 0.32	$ 0.22	$ 0.60	$ 0.39
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)		0.00	0.05	4.18	0.08
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)		$ 0.32	$ 0.27	$ 4.78	$ 0.47
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Earnings per Common Share and Per Unit - basic: [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations		$ 33,528	$ 22,221	$ 61,670	$ 39,141
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates from continuing operations		(314)	(328)	(622)	(624)
Distributions on Preferred Units		(627)	(626)	(1,253)	(1,253)
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders		32,587	21,267	59,795	37,264
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders		0	4,670	418,593	8,585
Net income available for common unitholders		$ 32,587	$ 25,937	$ 478,388	$ 45,849
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Unit - weighted average units (in shares)		100,129	96,556	99,496	96,153
Earnings per Common Unit - basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)		$ 0.33	$ 0.22	$ 0.60	$ 0.39
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)		0.00	0.05	4.21	0.09
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)		$ 0.33	$ 0.27	$ 4.81	$ 0.48
Earnings per Common Share and Per Unit - diluted: [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations		$ 33,528	$ 22,221	$ 61,670	$ 39,141
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates		(314)	(328)	(622)	(624)
Distributions on Preferred Units		(627)	(626)	(1,253)	(1,253)
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders		32,587	21,267	59,795	37,264
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders		0	4,670	418,593	8,585
Net income available for common unitholders		$ 32,587	$ 25,937	$ 478,388	$ 45,849
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Unit - weighted average units (in shares)		100,129	96,556	99,496	96,153
Stock options using the treasury method		90	84	87	104
Denominator for diluted earnings per Common Unit - adjusted weighted average units and assumed conversions (in shares)	[2]	100,219	96,640	99,583	96,257
Earnings per Common Unit - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)		$ 0.33	$ 0.22	$ 0.60	$ 0.39
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)		0.00	0.05	4.20	0.09
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)		$ 0.33	$ 0.27	$ 4.80	$ 0.48

[1] Includes all unvested restricted stock where dividends on such restricted stock are non-forfeitable.

[2] Includes all unvested restricted stock where dividends on such restricted stock are non-forfeitable.