Earnings Per Share and Per Unit (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Earnings per Common Share and Per Unit - basic: [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations	$ 59,549	$ 33,840	$ 132,588	$ 95,510
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership from continuing operations	(1,571)	(926)	(3,502)	(2,611)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates from continuing operations	(315)	(319)	(914)	(941)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(623)	(624)	(1,869)	(1,877)
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders	57,040	31,971	126,303	90,081
Income from discontinued operations	0	0	0	418,593
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership from discontinued operations	0	0	0	(12,265)
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders	0	0	0	406,328
Net income available for common stockholders	$ 57,040	$ 31,971	$ 126,303	$ 496,409
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Share - weighted average shares (in shares)	103,237	98,973	102,489	97,669
Earnings per Common Share - basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.55	$ 0.32	$ 1.23	$ 0.92
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	0.00	0.00	0.00	4.16
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.55	$ 0.32	$ 1.23	$ 5.08
Earnings per Common Share and Per Unit - diluted: [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations	$ 59,549	$ 33,840	$ 132,588	$ 95,510
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(315)	(319)	(914)	(941)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(623)	(624)	(1,869)	(1,877)
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders before net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	58,611	32,897	129,805	92,692
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders	0	0	0	418,593
Net income available for common stockholders before net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	$ 58,611	$ 32,897	$ 129,805	$ 511,285
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Share - weighted average shares (in shares)	103,237	98,973	102,489	97,669
Stock options using the treasury method (in shares)	76	108	79	94
Noncontrolling interests Common Units (in shares)	2,832	2,858	2,834	2,882
Denominator for diluted earnings per Common Share - adjusted weighted average shares and assumed conversions (in shares)	106,145	101,939	105,402	100,645
Earnings per Common Share - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.55	$ 0.32	$ 1.23	$ 0.92
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	0.00	0.00	0.00	4.16
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.55	$ 0.32	$ 1.23	$ 5.08
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Earnings per Common Share and Per Unit - basic: [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations	$ 59,549	$ 33,840	$ 132,588	$ 95,510
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates from continuing operations	(315)	(319)	(914)	(941)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(623)	(624)	(1,869)	(1,877)
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders	58,611	32,897	129,805	92,692
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders	0	0	0	418,593
Net income available for common unitholders	$ 58,611	$ 32,897	$ 129,805	$ 511,285
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Unit - weighted average units (in shares)	105,660	101,422	104,914	100,142
Earnings per Common Unit - basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.55	$ 0.32	$ 1.24	$ 0.93
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	0.00	0.00	0.00	4.18
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.55	$ 0.32	$ 1.24	$ 5.11
Earnings per Common Share and Per Unit - diluted: [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations	$ 59,549	$ 33,840	$ 132,588	$ 95,510
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(315)	(319)	(914)	(941)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(623)	(624)	(1,869)	(1,877)
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders	58,611	32,897	129,805	92,692
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders	0	0	0	418,593
Net income available for common unitholders	$ 58,611	$ 32,897	$ 129,805	$ 511,285
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Unit - weighted average units (in shares)	105,660	101,422	104,914	100,142
Stock options using the treasury method (in shares)	76	108	79	94
Denominator for diluted earnings per Common Unit - adjusted weighted average units and assumed conversions (in shares)	105,736	101,530	104,993	100,236
Earnings per Common Unit - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.55	$ 0.32	$ 1.24	$ 0.92
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	0.00	0.00	0.00	4.18
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.55	$ 0.32	$ 1.24	$ 5.10