Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items]
Rental and other revenues	$ 181,388	$ 179,417	$ 178,792	$ 180,438	$ 175,861	$ 180,185	$ 177,283	$ 169,408	$ 720,035	$ 702,737	$ 665,634
Net income	55,377	35,009	52,998	34,246	59,075	59,549	39,554	33,485	177,630	191,663	541,139
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(1,417)	(902)	(1,381)	(888)	(1,557)	(1,571)	(1,043)	(888)	(4,588)	(5,059)	(15,596)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(289)	(324)	(308)	(286)	(325)	(315)	(299)	(300)	(1,207)	(1,239)	(1,253)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(623)	(623)	(623)	(623)	(623)	(623)	(623)	(623)	(2,492)	(2,492)	(2,501)
Net income available for common stockholders	$ 53,048	$ 33,160	$ 50,686	$ 32,449	$ 56,570	$ 57,040	$ 37,589	$ 31,674	$ 169,343	$ 182,873	$ 521,789
Earnings per Common Share - basic:
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.51	$ 0.32	$ 0.49	$ 0.31	$ 0.55	$ 0.55	$ 0.37	$ 0.31	$ 1.64	$ 1.78	$ 5.30
Earnings per Common Share - diluted:
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.51	$ 0.32	$ 0.49	$ 0.31	$ 0.55	$ 0.55	$ 0.37	$ 0.31	$ 1.64	$ 1.78	$ 5.30
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member]
Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items]
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership									$ (4,588)	$ (5,059)
Net income available for common stockholders									169,343	182,873	$ 521,789
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items]
Rental and other revenues	$ 181,388	$ 179,417	$ 178,792	$ 180,438	$ 175,861	$ 180,185	$ 177,283	$ 169,408	720,035	702,737	665,634
Net income	55,377	35,009	52,998	34,246	59,075	59,549	39,554	33,485	177,630	191,663	541,139
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(289)	(324)	(308)	(286)	(325)	(315)	(299)	(300)	(1,207)	(1,239)	(1,253)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(623)	(623)	(623)	(623)	(623)	(623)	(623)	(623)	(2,492)	(2,492)	(2,501)
Net income available for common unitholders	$ 54,465	$ 34,062	$ 52,067	$ 33,337	$ 58,127	$ 58,611	$ 38,632	$ 32,562	$ 173,931	$ 187,932	$ 537,385
Earnings per Common Unit - basic:
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.51	$ 0.32	$ 0.49	$ 0.32	$ 0.55	$ 0.55	$ 0.37	$ 0.31	$ 1.64	$ 1.79	$ 5.33
Earnings per Common Unit - diluted:
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.51	$ 0.32	$ 0.49	$ 0.32	$ 0.55	$ 0.55	$ 0.37	$ 0.31	$ 1.64	$ 1.79	$ 5.32