Name:	hiw_CashFundedToAcquireInterestInJointVenture
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Total estimated cost to construct development property.

No definition available.

Name:	hiw_EstimatedDevelopmentCosts
Namespace Prefix:	hiw_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

The percentage of the Company's net result for the period of deducting operating expenses from operating revenues.

No definition available.

Name:	hiw_PercentOfNetOperatingIncome
Namespace Prefix:	hiw_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

The maximum percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

No definition available.

Name:	hiw_PercentageOfEquityInterestInJointVenturesMaximum
Namespace Prefix:	hiw_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
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The percentage of the rentable square feet of the Company that is occupied.

No definition available.

Name:	hiw_PercentageOfRentableSquareFeetOccupied
Namespace Prefix:	hiw_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

The percentage of rentable square feet of a building under development that is pre-leased.

No definition available.

Name:	hiw_PreLeasePercentageOfBuildingUnderDevelopment
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Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
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The amount of square footage related to real estate properties.

No definition available.

Name:	hiw_RentableSquareFeetOfCommercialRealEstate
Namespace Prefix:	hiw_
Data Type:	dtr-types:areaItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

This element represents the current and noncurrent portions of a long-term real estate loan with an initial maturity beyond one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer, to finance building costs. The funds are disbursed as needed or in accordance with a prearranged plan; generally, a portion of the funds is disbursed at inception and the remainder as construction progresses. The money is repaid on completion of the project (generally one to seven years), usually from the proceeds of a mortgage loan. The rate is normally higher than the prime rate, and there is usually an origination fee. The effective yield on these loans tends to be high, and the lender has a security interest in the real property.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.16)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120398452&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19,20,22)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.16)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120400017&loc=d3e572229-122910

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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Detail information of subsequent event by type. User is expected to use existing line items from elsewhere in the taxonomy as the primary line items for this disclosure, which is further associated with dimension and member elements pertaining to a subsequent event.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_SubsequentEventLineItems
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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
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Period Type:	duration

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Namespace Prefix:
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Name:	us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis=us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
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Name:	srt_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=hiw_DallasJointVenturesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	srt_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=hiw_GraniteParkSixMember
Namespace Prefix:
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