Earnings Per Share and Per Unit (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Earnings per Common Share and Per Unit - basic: [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations	$ 33,485	$ 28,142
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership from continuing operations	(888)	(746)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates from continuing operations	(300)	(308)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(623)	(626)
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders	31,674	26,462
Income from discontinued operations	0	418,593
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership from discontinued operations	0	(12,265)
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders	0	406,328
Net income available for common stockholders	$ 31,674	$ 432,790
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Share - weighted average shares (in shares)	101,738	96,373
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
Earnings per Common Share and Per Unit - diluted: [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations	$ 33,485	$ 28,142
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(300)	(308)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(623)	(626)
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders before net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	32,562	27,208
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders	0	418,593
Net income available for common stockholders before net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	$ 32,562	$ 445,801
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Share - weighted average shares (in shares)	101,738	96,373
Stock options using the treasury method (in shares)	85	84
Noncontrolling interests Common Units (in shares)	2,838	2,900
Denominator for diluted earnings per Common Share - adjusted weighted average shares and assumed conversions (in shares)	104,661	99,357
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
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Earnings per Common Share and Per Unit - basic: [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations	$ 33,485	$ 28,142
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates from continuing operations	(300)	(308)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(623)	(626)
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
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Unit - weighted average units (in shares)	104,167	98,864
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
Earnings per Common Share and Per Unit - diluted: [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations	$ 33,485	$ 28,142
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(300)	(308)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(623)	(626)
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
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Unit - weighted average units (in shares)	104,167	98,864
Stock options using the treasury method (in shares)	85	84
Denominator for diluted earnings per Common Unit - adjusted weighted average units and assumed conversions (in shares)	104,252	98,948
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