Consolidated Statements of Equity/Capital - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares [Member]	General Partners' Common Units [Member] Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Limited Partners' Common Units [Member] Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member] Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Affiliates [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Affiliates [Member] Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Distributions in Excess of Net Income Available for Common Stockholders [Member]
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2015			96,091,932
Balance at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 1,619,282	$ 1,590,232	$ 961	$ 29,050	$ 15,759	$ 1,560,309	$ 2,598,242	$ (3,811)	$ (3,811)	$ 17,975	$ 17,975	$ (1,023,135)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuances of Common Units, net of issuance costs and tax withholdings		104,472			1,045	103,427
Distributions on Common Units		(84,387)			(844)	(83,543)
Distributions on Preferred Units		(1,253)			(13)	(1,240)
Issuances of Common Stock, net of issuance costs and tax withholdings - Shares			2,324,850
Issuances of Common Stock, net of issuance costs and tax withholdings	104,472		$ 23				104,449
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock - Shares			32,328
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock	1,558						1,558
Dividends on Common Stock	(82,272)											(82,272)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(1,253)											(1,253)
Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership to fair value	(15,042)						(15,042)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(900)	(900)								(900)	(900)
Issuances of restricted stock - shares			130,752
Issuances of restricted stock	0
Redemptions/repurchases of Preferred Stock	(115)			(115)
Share-based compensation expense, net of forfeitures - shares			(8,888)
Share-based compensation expense, net of forfeitures	4,550	4,550	$ 2		46	4,504	4,548
Adjustment of Redeemable Common Units to fair value and contributions/distributions from/to the General Partner		(25,319)			(253)	(25,066)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(13,950)											(13,950)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	0	0			(6)	(616)				622	622	(622)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	480,263	480,263			4,803	475,460						480,263
Other comprehensive income/(loss)	(7,817)	(7,817)						(7,817)	(7,817)
Total comprehensive income	472,446	472,446
Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2016			98,570,974
Balance at Jun. 30, 2016	$ 2,088,776	2,059,841	$ 986	28,935	20,537	2,033,235	2,693,755	(11,628)	(11,628)	17,697	17,697	(640,969)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016	101,665,554		101,665,554
Balance at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 2,154,316	2,125,396	$ 1,017	28,920	21,023	2,081,463	2,850,881	4,949	4,949	17,961	17,961	(749,412)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuances of Common Units, net of issuance costs and tax withholdings		69,833			698	69,135
Distributions on Common Units		(92,087)			(920)	(91,167)
Distributions on Preferred Units		(1,246)			(12)	(1,234)
Issuances of Common Stock, net of issuance costs and tax withholdings - Shares			1,453,935
Issuances of Common Stock, net of issuance costs and tax withholdings	69,833		$ 15				69,818
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock - Shares			6,000
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock	305						305
Dividends on Common Stock	(89,952)											(89,952)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(1,246)											(1,246)
Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership to fair value	287						287
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(858)	(858)								(858)	(858)
Issuances of restricted stock - shares			110,748
Issuances of restricted stock	0
Redemptions/repurchases of Preferred Stock	(15)			(15)
Share-based compensation expense, net of forfeitures - shares			0
Share-based compensation expense, net of forfeitures	4,837	4,837			48	4,789	4,837
Adjustment of Redeemable Common Units to fair value and contributions/distributions from/to the General Partner		796			7	789
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(1,931)											(1,931)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	0	0			(6)	(593)				599	599	(599)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	73,039	73,039			730	72,309						73,039
Other comprehensive income/(loss)	1,097	1,097						1,097	1,097
Total comprehensive income	$ 74,136	74,136
Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2017	103,236,237		103,236,237
Balance at Jun. 30, 2017	$ 2,209,712	$ 2,180,807	$ 1,032	$ 28,905	$ 21,568	$ 2,135,491	$ 2,926,128	$ 6,046	$ 6,046	$ 17,702	$ 17,702	$ (770,101)