Disclosure About Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Assets:
Mortgages and notes receivable, at fair value	$ 7,787	$ 8,833
Interest rate swaps (in prepaid expenses and other assets)		7,619
Marketable securities of non-qualified deferred compensation plan (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	2,370	2,451
Total Assets	10,157	18,903
Liabilities:
Mortgages and notes payable, net, at fair value	2,050,264	1,965,611
Interest rate swaps (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	1,001	1,870
Non-qualified deferred compensation obligation (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	2,370	2,451
Total Liabilities	2,053,635	1,969,932
Level 1 [Member]
Assets:
Mortgages and notes receivable, at fair value	0	0
Interest rate swaps (in prepaid expenses and other assets)		0
Marketable securities of non-qualified deferred compensation plan (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	2,370	2,451
Total Assets	2,370	2,451
Liabilities:
Mortgages and notes payable, net, at fair value	0	0
Interest rate swaps (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	0	0
Non-qualified deferred compensation obligation (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	2,370	2,451
Total Liabilities	2,370	2,451
Level 2 [Member]
Assets:
Mortgages and notes receivable, at fair value	7,787	8,833
Interest rate swaps (in prepaid expenses and other assets)		7,619
Marketable securities of non-qualified deferred compensation plan (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	0	0
Total Assets	7,787	16,452
Liabilities:
Mortgages and notes payable, net, at fair value	2,050,264	1,965,611
Interest rate swaps (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	1,001	1,870
Non-qualified deferred compensation obligation (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	0	0
Total Liabilities	2,051,265	1,967,481
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member]
Assets:
Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership	139,367	144,802
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Assets:
Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership	139,367	144,802
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Assets:
Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership	$ 0	$ 0