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Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies (Details) $ in Thousands, ft² in Millions | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) a ft² property customers shares | Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Description of Business [Abstract] |  |  |
Rentable square feet of commercial real estate (in square feet) | ft² | 30.7 |  |
Rentable square feet of commercial real estate under development (in square feet) | ft² | 1.5 |  |
Undeveloped land suitable for future development (in acres) | a | 400 |  |
Number of common units required to convert to one share of common stock (in shares) | 1 |  |
Number of trading days preceeding Redemption Notice Date (in days) | 10 days |  |
Consolidated in-service office properties not wholly owned (in units) | property | 3 |  |
Joint venture partner's interest in unconsolidated affiliate (in hundredths) |  |  | 80.00%
Real estate assets, depreciation expense | $ | $ 184,385 | $ 173,072 | $ 168,663
Maturity of highly liquid investments (in months) | 3 months |  |
Percent of annual REIT taxable income required to pay to the Company's stockholders | 90.00% |  |
Customers with leases on wholly owned properties | customers | 1,792 |  |
Percent of annualized cash rental revenue derived from geographic locations | 10.00% |  |
Limit of consolidated revenue generated by any single customer | 6.00% |  |
Minimum [Member] |  |  |
Description of Business [Abstract] |  |  |
Adjustment interval of variable debt interest rates, mimimum (in months) | 1 month |  |
Maximum [Member] |  |  |
Description of Business [Abstract] |  |  |
Adjustment interval of variable debt interest rates, mimimum (in months) | 3 months |  |
Building [Member] |  |  |
Description of Business [Abstract] |  |  |
Property, plant and equipment useful life | 40 years |  |
Building Improvements [Member] |  |  |
Description of Business [Abstract] |  |  |
Property, plant and equipment useful life | 15 years |  |
Furniture and Fixtures [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |
Description of Business [Abstract] |  |  |
Property, plant and equipment useful life | 5 years |  |
Furniture and Fixtures [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |
Description of Business [Abstract] |  |  |
Property, plant and equipment useful life | 7 years |  |
Leaseholds and Leasehold Improvements [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |
Description of Business [Abstract] |  |  |
Property, plant and equipment useful life | 3 years |  |
Leaseholds and Leasehold Improvements [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |
Description of Business [Abstract] |  |  |
Property, plant and equipment useful life | 10 years |  |
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member] |  |  |
Description of Business [Abstract] |  |  |
Common Units of partnership owned (in shares) | 102,900,000 |  |
Percentage of ownership of Common Units | 97.30% | 97.30% |
Common units redeemed for a like number of common shares of stock (in shares) | 10,000 |  |
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] |  |  |
Description of Business [Abstract] |  |  |
Common Units of partnership not owned by the Company (in shares) | 2,800,000 |  |

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