Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Rental and other revenues	$ 169,408	$ 164,859
Operating expenses:
Rental property and other expenses	57,396	57,580
Depreciation and amortization	56,145	53,494
General and administrative	11,490	11,137
Total operating expenses	125,031	122,211
Interest expense:
Contractual	17,023	19,715
Amortization of debt issuance costs	840	990
Total interest expense	17,863	20,705
Other income:
Interest and other income	684	517
Total other income	684	517
Income from continuing operations before disposition of investment properties and activity in unconsolidated affiliates	27,198	22,460
Gains on disposition of property	5,332	4,397
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	955	1,285
Income from continuing operations	33,485	28,142
Discontinued operations:
Income from discontinued operations	0	4,097
Net gains on disposition of discontinued operations	0	414,496
Total income from discontinued operations	0	418,593
Net income	33,485	446,735
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(888)	(13,011)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(300)	(308)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(623)	(626)
Net income available for common stockholders	$ 31,674	$ 432,790
Earnings per Common Share – basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.31	$ 0.27
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	0.00	4.22
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.31	$ 4.49
Weighted average Common Shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	101,738	96,373
Earnings per Common Share - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.31	$ 0.27
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	0.00	4.22
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.31	$ 4.49
Weighted average Common Shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)	104,661	99,357
Dividends declared per Common Share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.440	$ 0.425
Net income available for common stockholders:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders	$ 31,674	$ 26,462
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders	0	406,328
Net income available for common stockholders	31,674	432,790
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Rental and other revenues	169,408	164,859
Operating expenses:
Rental property and other expenses	57,396	57,580
Depreciation and amortization	56,145	53,494
General and administrative	11,490	11,137
Total operating expenses	125,031	122,211
Interest expense:
Contractual	17,023	19,715
Amortization of debt issuance costs	840	990
Total interest expense	17,863	20,705
Other income:
Interest and other income	684	517
Total other income	684	517
Income from continuing operations before disposition of investment properties and activity in unconsolidated affiliates	27,198	22,460
Gains on disposition of property	5,332	4,397
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	955	1,285
Income from continuing operations	33,485	28,142
Discontinued operations:
Income from discontinued operations	0	4,097
Net gains on disposition of discontinued operations	0	414,496
Total income from discontinued operations	0	418,593
Net income	33,485	446,735
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(300)	(308)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(623)	(626)
Net income available for common unitholders	$ 32,562	$ 445,801
Earnings per Common Unit - basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.31	$ 0.28
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	0.00	4.23
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.31	$ 4.51
Weighted average Common Units outstanding - basic (in shares)	104,167	98,864
Earnings per Common Unit - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.31	$ 0.28
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	0.00	4.23
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.31	$ 4.51
Weighted average Common Units outstanding - diluted (in shares)	104,252	98,948
Distributions declared per Common Unit (in dollars per unit)	$ 0.44	$ 0.425
Net income available for common unitholders:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders	$ 32,562	$ 27,208
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders	0	418,593
Net income available for common unitholders	$ 32,562	$ 445,801