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Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies (Details) ft² in Millions, $ in Millions | 6 Months Ended
--- | ---
Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($) a ft² shares | Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($)
Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |
Rentable square feet of commercial real estate properties (in sq feet) | ft² | 30.5 |
Rentable square feet of commercial real estate properties under development (in sq feet) | ft² | 2.0 |
Undeveloped land suitable for future development (in acres) | a | 400 |
Self insurance liability | $ | $ 0.7 |
Accounting Standards Update 2016-18 [Member] |  |
Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |
Net increase in investing activities, effect of adoption, quantification | $ |  | $ 8.5
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member] |  |
Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |
Common Units of partnership owned by the Company (in shares) | 103,100,000 |
Percentage of ownership of Common Units (in hundredths) | 97.40% |
Common Units redeemed for a like number of common shares of stock (in shares) | 23,196 |
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) | 2,800,000 |

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- Definition Area of undeveloped land parcels owned in acres. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The number of units not held by the Company. + References No definition available. + Details
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