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, 2017			103,266,875
Balance at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 2,237,234	$ 2,208,342	$ 1,033	$ 28,892	$ 21,830	$ 2,161,258	$ 2,929,399	$ 7,838	$ 7,838	$ 17,416	$ 17,416	$ (747,344)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuances of Common Units, net of issuance costs and tax withholdings		(1,029)			(10)	(1,019)
Distributions on Common Units		(48,858)			(488)	(48,370)
Distributions on Preferred Units		(623)			(6)	(617)
Issuances of Common Stock, net of issuance costs and tax withholdings - Shares			(36,757)
Issuances of Common Stock, net of issuance costs and tax withholdings	(1,029)		$ 0				(1,029)
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock - Shares			19,196
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock	902						902
Dividends on Common Stock	(47,747)											(47,747)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(623)											(623)
Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership to fair value	19,582						19,582
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(238)	(238)								(238)	(238)
Issuances of restricted stock - shares			172,440
Issuances of restricted stock	0
Redemptions/repurchases of Preferred Stock	(5)			(5)
Share-based compensation expense, net of forfeitures	4,295	4,295	$ 1		43	4,252	4,294
Adjustment of Redeemable Common Units to fair value and contributions/distributions from/to the General Partner		20,707			207	20,500
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(888)											(888)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	0	0			(3)	(283)				286	286	(286)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	34,246	34,246			342	33,904						34,246
Other comprehensive income/(loss)	7,771	7,771						7,771	7,771
Total comprehensive income	42,017	42,017
Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2018			103,421,754
Balance at Mar. 31, 2018	$ 2,253,500	2,224,613	$ 1,034	28,887	21,915	2,169,625	2,953,148	15,609	15,609	17,464	17,464	(762,642)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018	103,557,065		103,557,065
Balance at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 2,264,296	2,235,419	$ 1,036	28,877	22,078	2,185,852	2,976,197	9,913	9,913	17,576	17,576	(769,303)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuances of Common Units, net of issuance costs and tax withholdings		(1,128)			(11)	(1,117)
Distributions on Common Units		(50,281)			(503)	(49,778)
Distributions on Preferred Units		(622)			(6)	(616)
Issuances of Common Stock, net of issuance costs and tax withholdings - Shares			(33,377)
Issuances of Common Stock, net of issuance costs and tax withholdings	(1,128)		$ 0				(1,128)
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock - Shares			3,000
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock	131						131
Dividends on Common Stock	(49,175)											(49,175)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(622)											(622)
Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership to fair value	(23,254)						(23,254)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(308)	(308)								(308)	(308)
Issuances of restricted stock - shares			164,190
Issuances of restricted stock	0
Redemptions/repurchases of Preferred Stock	(18)			(18)
Share-based compensation expense, net of forfeitures - shares			(259)
Share-based compensation expense, net of forfeitures	4,572	4,572	$ 1		46	4,526	4,571
Adjustment of Redeemable Common Units to fair value and contributions/distributions from/to the General Partner		(22,210)			(222)	(21,988)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(193)											(193)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	0	0			(3)	(313)				316	316	(316)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	8,386	8,386			84	8,302						8,386
Other comprehensive income/(loss)	(2,419)	(2,419)						(2,419)	(2,419)
Total comprehensive income	$ 5,967	5,967
Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2019	103,690,619		103,690,619
Balance at Mar. 31, 2019	$ 2,200,268	$ 2,171,409	$ 1,037	$ 28,859	$ 21,463	$ 2,124,868	$ 2,956,517	$ 7,494	$ 7,494	$ 17,584	$ 17,584	$ (811,223)