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Equity (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015
Class of Stock [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Net proceeds of Common Stock sold during the period | $ 70,977 |  | $ 256,380 | $ 125,537
Number of trading days preceeding Redemption Notice Date (in days) | 10 days |  |  |
Future distribution of Common Stock (in dollars per share) | $ 0.06 |  |  |
Dividends, Common Stock [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Ordinary income | 1.50 | [1] | $ 1.15 | $ 1.50
Capital gains | 0.32 | [1] | 1.29 | 0.13
Return of capital | 0.00 | [1] | 0.00 | 0.07
Total taxability of dividends per share | $ 1.82 | [1] | $ 2.44 | 1.70
Dividends, Preferred Stock [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Number of shares outstanding, Preferred Stock (in shares) | 28,892 |  | 28,920 |
Carrying value, Preferred Stock | $ 28,892 |  | $ 28,920 |
Liquidation preference per share, Preferred Stock (in dollars per share) | $ 1,000 |  | $ 1,000 |
Warrants [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Warrants to acquire Common Stock/Units, outstanding | 15,000 |  | 15,000 |
Exercise price of outstanding warrants | $ 32.50 |  | $ 32.50 |
Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares [Member] |  |  |  |
Dividends, Preferred Stock [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Ordinary income | 71.00 |  | 40.65 | 79.23
Capital gains | 15.25 |  | 45.60 | 7.02
Total taxability of dividends per share | $ 86.25 |  | $ 86.25 | 86.25
Issuance date, Preferred Stock/Unit | Feb. 12, 1997 |  | Feb. 12, 1997 |
Liquidation preference per share, Preferred Stock (in dollars per share) | $ 1,000 |  | $ 1,000 |
Optional redemption date, Preferred Stock/Unit | Feb. 12, 2027 |  | Feb. 12, 2027 |
Annual dividends payable per share, Preferred Stock/Unit (in dollars per share) | $ 86.25 |  | $ 86.25 | 86.25
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member] |  |  |  |
Class of Stock [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Possible future share issuance authorized under charter | 96,700,000 |  |  |
Dividends declared per share of Common Stock (in dollars per share) | $ 1.76 |  | $ 2.50 | 1.70
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member] | ATM Equity Offering [Member] |  |  |  |
Class of Stock [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Number of Common Stock sold during the period (in shares) | 1,363,919 |  | 5,078,940 |
Net proceeds of Common Stock sold during the period | $ 68,300 |  | $ 246,200 |
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member] | Special Dividend [Member] |  |  |  |
Class of Stock [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Dividends declared per share of Common Stock (in dollars per share) | $ 0.80 |  |  |
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] |  |  |  |
Class of Stock [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Distributions declared per share of Common Unit (in dollars per share) | $ 1.76 |  | $ 2.50 | $ 1.70
Dividends, Preferred Stock [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Number of units outstanding, Preferred Units (in shares) | 28,892 |  | 28,920 |
Carrying value, Preferred units | $ 28,892 |  | $ 28,920 |
Liquidation preference per unit, Preferred Units (in dollars per share) | $ 1,000 |  | $ 1,000 |
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares [Member] |  |  |  |
Dividends, Preferred Stock [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Total taxability of dividends per share | $ 86.25 |  | $ 86.25 |
Issuance date, Preferred Stock/Unit | Feb. 12, 1997 |  | Feb. 12, 1997 |
Liquidation preference per unit, Preferred Units (in dollars per share) | $ 1,000 |  | $ 1,000 |
Optional redemption date, Preferred Stock/Unit | Feb. 12, 2027 |  | Feb. 12, 2027 |
Annual dividends payable per share, Preferred Stock/Unit (in dollars per share) | $ 86.25 |  | $ 86.25 |
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] | Special Dividend [Member] |  |  |  |
Class of Stock [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Distributions declared per share of Common Unit (in dollars per share) | $ 0.80 |  |  |
[1] | During 2016, cash dividends declared on Common Stock totaled $2.50 per share, of which approximately $0.06 was recognized as a 2017 distribution for federal income tax purposes.

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