Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Real estate assets, at cost:
Land	$ 495,501	$ 491,441
Buildings and tenant improvements	4,844,229	4,676,862
Development in-process	133,189	165,537
Land held for development	94,550	128,248
Total real estate assets	5,567,469	5,462,088
Less-accumulated depreciation	(1,388,166)	(1,296,562)
Net real estate assets	4,179,303	4,165,526
Cash and cash equivalents	116,724	3,769
Restricted cash	6,300	6,374
Accounts receivable	25,507	25,952
Mortgages and notes receivable, net of allowance of $19 and $44, respectively	1,542	5,599
Accrued straight-line rents receivable	233,078	220,088
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	24,088	23,585
Deferred leasing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $148,019 and $149,275, respectively	196,048	195,273
Prepaid expenses and other assets, net of accumulated depreciation of $19,944 and $18,074, respectively	108,035	28,843
Total Assets	4,890,625	4,675,009
Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Capital:
Mortgages and notes payable, net	2,322,226	2,085,831
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	272,989	218,922
Total Liabilities	2,595,215	2,304,753
Commitments and contingencies
Noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	122,493	105,960
Equity/Capital:
Preferred Stock, $.01 par value, 50,000,000 authorized shares; 8.625% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares (liquidation preference $1,000 per share), 28,859 and 28,877 shares issued and outstanding, respectively	28,859	28,877
Common Stock, $.01 par value, 200,000,000 authorized shares; 103,748,337 and 103,557,065 shares issued and outstanding, respectively	1,037	1,036
Additional paid-in capital	2,963,680	2,976,197
Distributions in excess of net income available for common stockholders	(842,387)	(769,303)
Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss)	(527)	9,913
Total Stockholders’ Equity	2,150,662	2,246,720
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	22,255	17,576
Total Equity/Capital	2,172,917	2,264,296
Total Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Total Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Capital	4,890,625	4,675,009
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Real estate assets, at cost:
Land	495,501	491,441
Buildings and tenant improvements	4,844,229	4,676,862
Development in-process	133,189	165,537
Land held for development	94,550	128,248
Total real estate assets	5,567,469	5,462,088
Less-accumulated depreciation	(1,388,166)	(1,296,562)
Net real estate assets	4,179,303	4,165,526
Cash and cash equivalents	116,724	3,769
Restricted cash	6,300	6,374
Accounts receivable	25,507	25,952
Mortgages and notes receivable, net of allowance of $19 and $44, respectively	1,542	5,599
Accrued straight-line rents receivable	233,078	220,088
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	24,088	23,585
Deferred leasing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $148,019 and $149,275, respectively	196,048	195,273
Prepaid expenses and other assets, net of accumulated depreciation of $19,944 and $18,074, respectively	108,035	28,843
Total Assets	4,890,625	4,675,009
Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Capital:
Mortgages and notes payable, net	2,322,226	2,085,831
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	272,989	218,922
Total Liabilities	2,595,215	2,304,753
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable Operating Partnership Units:
Common Units, 2,725,703 and 2,738,703 outstanding, respectively	122,493	105,960
Series A Preferred Units (liquidation preference $1,000 per unit), 28,859 and 28,877 units issued and outstanding, respectively	28,859	28,877
Total Redeemable Operating Partnership Units	151,352	134,837
Equity/Capital:
General partner Common Units, 1,060,652 and 1,058,870 outstanding, respectively	21,221	22,078
Limited partner Common Units, 102,278,876 and 102,089,386 outstanding, respectively	2,101,109	2,185,852
Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss)	(527)	9,913
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	22,255	17,576
Total Equity/Capital	2,144,058	2,235,419
Total Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Total Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Capital	$ 4,890,625	$ 4,675,009