Earnings Per Share and Per Unit (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2023	Mar. 31, 2022
Earnings per Common Share and Per Unit - basic: [Abstract]
Net income	$ 44,954	$ 42,103
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(986)	(965)
Net (income)/loss attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	487	(257)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(621)	(621)
Net income available for common stockholders	$ 43,834	$ 40,260
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Share - weighted average shares (in shares)	105,288	104,933
Earnings per Common Share - basic:
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.42	$ 0.38
Earnings per Common Share and Per Unit - diluted: [Abstract]
Net income	$ 44,954	$ 42,103
Net (income)/loss attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	487	(257)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(621)	(621)
Net income available for common stockholders before net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	$ 44,820	$ 41,225
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Share - weighted average shares (in shares)	105,288	104,933
Stock options using the treasury method (in shares)	0	15
Noncontrolling interests Common Units (in shares)	2,358	2,505
Denominator for diluted earnings per Common Share - adjusted weighted average shares and assumed conversions (in shares)	107,646	107,453
Earnings per Common Share - diluted:
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.42	$ 0.38
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership
Earnings per Common Share and Per Unit - basic: [Abstract]
Net income	$ 44,954	$ 42,103
Net (income)/loss attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	487	(257)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(621)	(621)
Net income available for common unitholders	$ 44,820	$ 41,225
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Unit - weighted average units (in shares)	107,237	107,029
Earnings per Common Unit - basic:
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.42	$ 0.39
Earnings per Common Share and Per Unit - diluted: [Abstract]
Net income	$ 44,954	$ 42,103
Net (income)/loss attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	487	(257)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(621)	(621)
Net income available for common unitholders	$ 44,820	$ 41,225
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Unit - weighted average units (in shares)	107,237	107,029
Stock options using the treasury method (in shares)	0	15
Denominator for diluted earnings per Common Unit - adjusted weighted average units and assumed conversions (in shares)	107,237	107,044
Earnings per Common Unit - diluted:
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.42	$ 0.39