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Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands, ft² in Millions | 3 Months Ended |
--- | --- | ---
Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($) a ft² $ / shares shares | Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |
Rentable square feet of commercial real estate properties (in sq feet) | ft² | 31.2 |  |
Rentable square feet of commercial real estate properties under development (in sq feet) | ft² | 1.3 |  |
Undeveloped land suitable for development (in acres) | a | 500 |  |
Net proceeds of Common Stock sold during the period | $ 50,898 | $ 40,567 |
Percentage of equity interest in joint ventures, maximum (in hundredths) | 50.00% |  |
Carrying value of investment in unconsolidated affiliate | $ 19,225 |  | $ 20,676
Debt issuance costs reclassified to contra liability account | 2,100,937 |  | 2,491,813
Debt issuance costs reclassified to prepaid expenses and other assets | 39,681 |  | $ 26,649
Reclassified Debt Issuance Costs Member |  |  |
Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |
Debt issuance costs reclassified to contra liability account | 7,800 |  |
Debt issuance costs reclassified to prepaid expenses and other assets | $ 2,100 |  |
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member] |  |  |
Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |
Common Units of partnership owned by the Company (in shares) | shares | 97,000,000 |  |
Percentage of ownership of Common Units (in hundredths) | 97.10% |  | 97.10%
Joint venture partner's interest in unconsolidated affiliate (in hundredths) |  |  | 80.00%
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member] | ATM Equity Offering [Member] |  |  |
Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |
Number of Common Stock sold during the period (in shares) | shares | 1,054,496 |  |
Average price of Common Stock sold during the period (in dollars per share) | $ / shares | $ 45.86 |  |
Net proceeds of Common Stock sold during the period | $ 47,600 |  |
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] |  |  |
Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |
Common Units of partnership not owned by the Company (in shares) | shares | 2,900,000 |  |
Carrying value of investment in unconsolidated affiliate | $ 19,225 |  | $ 20,676
Debt issuance costs reclassified to contra liability account | 2,100,937 |  | 2,491,813
Debt issuance costs reclassified to prepaid expenses and other assets | $ 39,681 |  | $ 26,649
Unconsolidated Affiliate VIE Member |  |  |
Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |
Percentage of equity interest in joint ventures, maximum (in hundredths) | 12.50% |  |
Carrying value of investment in unconsolidated affiliate | $ 1,600 |  |

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