Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Real estate assets, at cost:
Land	$ 474,661	$ 474,375
Buildings and tenant improvements	4,326,570	4,313,373
Development in-process	327,446	279,602
Land held for development	84,056	77,355
Total real estate assets	5,212,733	5,144,705
Less-accumulated depreciation	(1,166,865)	(1,134,103)
Net real estate assets	4,045,868	4,010,602
Cash and cash equivalents	4,918	49,490
Restricted cash	29,241	29,141
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $491 and $624, respectively	15,814	17,372
Mortgages and notes receivable, net of allowance of $96 and $105, respectively	7,787	8,833
Accrued straight-line rents receivable, net of allowance of $242 and $692, respectively	178,872	172,829
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	14,822	18,846
Deferred leasing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $142,148 and $140,081, respectively	210,141	213,500
Prepaid expenses and other assets, net of accumulated amortization of $20,695 and $19,904, respectively	41,353	40,437
Total Assets	4,548,816	4,561,050
Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Capital:
Mortgages and notes payable, net	2,042,486	1,948,047
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	207,144	313,885
Total Liabilities	2,249,630	2,261,932
Commitments and contingencies
Noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	139,367	144,802
Equity/Capital:
Preferred Stock, $.01 par value, 50,000,000 authorized shares; 8.625% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares (liquidation preference $1,000 per share), 28,905 and 28,920 shares issued and outstanding, respectively	28,905	28,920
Common Stock, $.01 par value, 200,000,000 authorized shares; 102,018,119 and 101,665,554 shares issued and outstanding, respectively	1,020	1,017
Additional paid-in capital	2,868,869	2,850,881
Distributions in excess of net income available for common stockholders	(762,655)	(749,412)
Accumulated other comprehensive income	5,885	4,949
Total Stockholders’ Equity	2,142,024	2,136,355
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	17,795	17,961
Total Equity/Capital	2,159,819	2,154,316
Total Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Total Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Capital	4,548,816	4,561,050
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Real estate assets, at cost:
Land	474,661	474,375
Buildings and tenant improvements	4,326,570	4,313,373
Development in-process	327,446	279,602
Land held for development	84,056	77,355
Total real estate assets	5,212,733	5,144,705
Less-accumulated depreciation	(1,166,865)	(1,134,103)
Net real estate assets	4,045,868	4,010,602
Cash and cash equivalents	4,918	49,490
Restricted cash	29,241	29,141
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $491 and $624, respectively	15,814	17,372
Mortgages and notes receivable, net of allowance of $96 and $105, respectively	7,787	8,833
Accrued straight-line rents receivable, net of allowance of $242 and $692, respectively	178,872	172,829
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	14,822	18,846
Deferred leasing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $142,148 and $140,081, respectively	210,141	213,500
Prepaid expenses and other assets, net of accumulated amortization of $20,695 and $19,904, respectively	41,353	40,437
Total Assets	4,548,816	4,561,050
Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Capital:
Mortgages and notes payable, net	2,042,486	1,948,047
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	207,144	313,885
Total Liabilities	2,249,630	2,261,932
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable Operating Partnership Units:
Common Units, 2,836,704 and 2,838,704 outstanding, respectively	139,367	144,802
Series A Preferred Units (liquidation preference $1,000 per unit), 28,905 and 28,920 units issued and outstanding, respectively	28,905	28,920
Total Redeemable Operating Partnership Units	168,272	173,722
Equity/Capital:
General partner Common Units, 1,044,460 and 1,040,954 outstanding, respectively	21,070	21,023
Limited partner Common Units, 100,564,850 and 100,215,791 outstanding, respectively	2,086,164	2,081,463
Accumulated other comprehensive income	5,885	4,949
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	17,795	17,961
Total Equity/Capital	2,130,914	2,125,396
Total Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Total Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Capital	$ 4,548,816	$ 4,561,050