Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019
Rental and other revenues	$ 181,043	$ 187,475	$ 556,996	$ 543,908
Operating expenses:
Rental property and other expenses	56,892	64,135	174,213	185,244
Depreciation and amortization	60,303	60,850	180,914	189,514
Impairments of real estate assets	0	5,318	1,778	5,849
General and administrative	9,155	11,717	30,169	33,658
Total operating expenses	126,350	142,020	387,074	414,265
Interest expense	19,886	20,527	61,003	59,622
Other income/(loss)	(3,311)	174	(2,654)	(3,271)
Gains on disposition of property	10,012	3,515	163,397	10,218
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	823	940	2,965	2,369
Net income	42,331	29,557	272,627	79,337
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(1,107)	(737)	(7,084)	(1,974)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(298)	(297)	(872)	(919)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(622)	(622)	(1,866)	(1,866)
Net income available for common stockholders	$ 40,304	$ 27,901	$ 262,805	$ 74,578
Earnings per Common Share – basic:
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.39	$ 0.27	$ 2.53	$ 0.72
Weighted average Common Shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	103,896	103,727	103,865	103,674
Earnings per Common Share - diluted:
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.39	$ 0.27	$ 2.53	$ 0.72
Weighted average Common Shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)	106,740	106,471	106,702	106,425
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Rental and other revenues	$ 181,043	$ 187,475	$ 556,996	$ 543,908
Operating expenses:
Rental property and other expenses	56,892	64,135	174,213	185,244
Depreciation and amortization	60,303	60,850	180,914	189,514
Impairments of real estate assets	0	5,318	1,778	5,849
General and administrative	9,155	11,717	30,169	33,658
Total operating expenses	126,350	142,020	387,074	414,265
Interest expense	19,886	20,527	61,003	59,622
Other income/(loss)	(3,311)	174	(2,654)	(3,271)
Gains on disposition of property	10,012	3,515	163,397	10,218
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	823	940	2,965	2,369
Net income	42,331	29,557	272,627	79,337
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(298)	(297)	(872)	(919)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(622)	(622)	(1,866)	(1,866)
Net income available for common unitholders	$ 41,411	$ 28,638	$ 269,889	$ 76,552
Earnings per Common Unit - basic:
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.39	$ 0.27	$ 2.54	$ 0.72
Weighted average Common Units outstanding - basic (in shares)	106,329	106,046	106,283	105,998
Earnings per Common Unit - diluted:
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.39	$ 0.27	$ 2.54	$ 0.72
Weighted average Common Units outstanding - diluted (in shares)	106,331	106,062	106,293	106,016