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Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands, ft² in Millions | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) a ft² $ / shares shares | Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) a ft² $ / shares shares | Sep. 30, 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 | 31.1 | 31.1 |  |
Rentable square feet of commercial real estate properties under development (in sq feet) | ft² | 1.1 | 1.1 |  |
Undeveloped land suitable for development (in acres) | a | 450 | 450 |  |
Net proceeds of Common Stock sold during the period |  | $ 187,214 | $ 93,216 |
Percentage of equity interest in joint ventures, maximum (in hundredths) | 50.00% | 50.00% |  |
Carrying value of investment in unconsolidated affiliate | $ 18,697 | $ 18,697 |  | $ 20,676
Debt issuance costs reclassified to contra liability account | 1,901,066 | 1,901,066 |  | 2,491,813
Debt issuance costs reclassified to prepaid expenses and other assets | $ 28,581 | $ 28,581 |  | 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
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% | 12.50% |  |
Carrying value of investment in unconsolidated affiliate | $ 100 | $ 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 | 99,800,000 | 99,800,000 |  |
Percentage of ownership of Common Units (in hundredths) | 97.20% | 97.20% |  | 97.10%
Common Units redeemed for a like number of common shares of stock (in shares) | shares |  | 60,048 |  |
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 | 1,547,457 | 3,624,528 |  |
Average price of Common Stock sold during the period (in dollars per share) | $ / shares | $ 52.79 | $ 49.67 |  |
Net proceeds of Common Stock sold during the period | $ 80,500 | $ 177,300 |  |
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 | 2,800,000 | 2,800,000 |  |
Carrying value of investment in unconsolidated affiliate | $ 18,697 | $ 18,697 |  | $ 20,676
Debt issuance costs reclassified to contra liability account | 1,901,066 | 1,901,066 |  | 2,491,813
Debt issuance costs reclassified to prepaid expenses and other assets | $ 28,581 | $ 28,581 |  | $ 26,649

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