Earnings Per Share and Per Unit (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended												12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2016		Sep. 30, 2016		Jun. 30, 2016		Mar. 31, 2016		Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016		Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Earnings per Common Share/Unit - basic: [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations		$ 27,036		$ 33,840		$ 33,528		$ 28,142		$ 19,028	$ 27,352	$ 22,221	$ 16,920	$ 122,546		$ 85,521	$ 96,987
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership from continuing operations														(3,331)		(2,443)	(2,945)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates from continuing operations		(312)		(319)		(314)		(308)		(316)	(324)	(328)	(296)	(1,253)		(1,264)	(1,466)
Dividends on Preferred Stock		(624)		(624)		(627)		(626)		(627)	(626)	(626)	(627)	(2,501)		(2,506)	(2,507)
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders														115,461		79,308	90,069
Income from discontinued operations		0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]	418,593	[1]	2,889	4,265	4,670	3,915	418,593	[1]	15,739	18,985
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership from discontinued operations														(12,265)		(475)	(597)
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders														406,328		15,264	18,388
Net income available for common stockholders		$ 25,380		$ 31,971		$ 31,648		$ 432,790		$ 20,352	$ 29,749	$ 25,155	$ 19,316	$ 521,789		$ 94,572	$ 108,457
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Share - weighted average shares (in shares)														98,439		94,404	90,743
Earnings per Common Share - basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)		$ 0.25		$ 0.32		$ 0.32		$ 0.27		$ 0.18	$ 0.27	$ 0.22	$ 0.17	$ 1.17		$ 0.84	$ 1.00
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)		0.00		0.00		0.00		4.22		0.03	0.04	0.05	0.04	4.13		0.16	0.20
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)		$ 0.25		$ 0.32		$ 0.32		$ 4.49		$ 0.21	$ 0.31	$ 0.27	$ 0.21	$ 5.30		$ 1.00	$ 1.20
Earnings per Common Share/Unit - diluted: [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations		$ 27,036		$ 33,840		$ 33,528		$ 28,142		$ 19,028	$ 27,352	$ 22,221	$ 16,920	$ 122,546		$ 85,521	$ 96,987
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates from continuing operations		(312)		(319)		(314)		(308)		(316)	(324)	(328)	(296)	(1,253)		(1,264)	(1,466)
Dividends on Preferred Stock		(624)		(624)		(627)		(626)		(627)	(626)	(626)	(627)	(2,501)		(2,506)	(2,507)
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders before net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership														118,792		81,751	93,014
Income from discontinued operations		$ 0	[1]	$ 0	[1]	$ 0	[1]	$ 418,593	[1]	$ 2,889	$ 4,265	$ 4,670	$ 3,915	418,593	[1]	15,739	18,985
Net income available for common stockholders before net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership														$ 537,385		$ 97,490	$ 111,999
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Share - weighted average shares (in shares)														98,439		94,404	90,743
Stock options using the treasury method														87		87	119
Noncontrolling interests Common Units														2,872		2,915	2,938
Denominator for diluted earnings per Common Share - adjusted weighted average shares and assumed conversions (in shares)	[2]													101,398		97,406	93,800
Earnings per Common Share - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)		$ 0.25		$ 0.32		$ 0.32		$ 0.27		$ 0.18	$ 0.27	$ 0.22	$ 0.17	$ 1.17		$ 0.84	$ 0.99
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)		0.00		0.00		0.00		4.22		0.03	0.04	0.05	0.04	4.13		0.16	0.20
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)		$ 0.25		$ 0.32		$ 0.32		$ 4.49		$ 0.21	$ 0.31	$ 0.27	$ 0.21	$ 5.30		$ 1.00	$ 1.19
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Earnings per Common Share/Unit - basic: [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations		$ 27,036		$ 33,840		$ 33,528		$ 28,142		$ 19,028	$ 27,352	$ 22,221	$ 16,920	$ 122,546		$ 85,521	$ 96,987
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates from continuing operations		(312)		(319)		(314)		(308)		(316)	(324)	(328)	(296)	(1,253)		(1,264)	(1,466)
Distributions on Preferred Units		(624)		(624)		(627)		(626)		(627)	(626)	(626)	(627)	(2,501)		(2,506)	(2,507)
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders														118,792		81,751	93,014
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders		0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]	418,593	[1]	2,889	4,265	4,670	3,915	418,593	[1]	15,739	18,985
Net income available for common unitholders		$ 26,100		$ 32,897		$ 32,587		$ 445,801		$ 20,974	$ 30,667	$ 25,937	$ 19,912	$ 537,385		$ 97,490	$ 111,999
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Unit - weighted average units (in shares)														100,902		96,910	93,272
Earnings per Common Unit - basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)		$ 0.25		$ 0.32		$ 0.33		$ 0.28		$ 0.18	$ 0.27	$ 0.22	$ 0.17	$ 1.18		$ 0.84	$ 1.00
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)		0.00		0.00		0.00		4.23		0.03	0.05	0.05	0.04	4.15		0.17	0.20
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)		$ 0.25		$ 0.32		$ 0.33		$ 4.51		$ 0.21	$ 0.32	$ 0.27	$ 0.21	$ 5.33		$ 1.01	$ 1.20
Earnings per Common Share/Unit - diluted: [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations		$ 27,036		$ 33,840		$ 33,528		$ 28,142		$ 19,028	$ 27,352	$ 22,221	$ 16,920	$ 122,546		$ 85,521	$ 96,987
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates from continuing operations		(312)		(319)		(314)		(308)		(316)	(324)	(328)	(296)	(1,253)		(1,264)	(1,466)
Distributions on Preferred Units		(624)		(624)		(627)		(626)		(627)	(626)	(626)	(627)	(2,501)		(2,506)	(2,507)
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders														118,792		81,751	93,014
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders		0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]	418,593	[1]	2,889	4,265	4,670	3,915	418,593	[1]	15,739	18,985
Net income available for common unitholders		$ 26,100		$ 32,897		$ 32,587		$ 445,801		$ 20,974	$ 30,667	$ 25,937	$ 19,912	$ 537,385		$ 97,490	$ 111,999
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Unit - weighted average units (in shares)														100,902		96,910	93,272
Stock options using the treasury method														87		87	119
Denominator for diluted earnings per Common Unit - adjusted weighted average units and assumed conversions (in shares)	[3]													100,989		96,997	93,391
Earnings per Common Unit - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)		$ 0.25		$ 0.32		$ 0.33		$ 0.28		$ 0.18	$ 0.27	$ 0.22	$ 0.17	$ 1.18		$ 0.84	$ 1.00
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)		0.00		0.00		0.00		4.23		0.03	0.05	0.05	0.04	4.14		0.17	0.20
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)		$ 0.25		$ 0.32		$ 0.33		$ 4.51		$ 0.21	$ 0.32	$ 0.27	$ 0.21	$ 5.32		$ 1.01	$ 1.20

[1] See Note 2 for a discussion regarding the sales of the Plaza assets.

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

[3] Includes all unvested restricted stock where distributions on such restricted stock are non-forfeitable.