Document and Entity Information Document - shares	6 Months Ended
Document and Entity Information Document - shares	Jun. 30, 2018	Jul. 17, 2018
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	HIGHWOODS PROPERTIES INC.
Entity Central Index Key	0000921082
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2018
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2018
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		103,460,115
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	HIGHWOODS REALTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
Entity Central Index Key	0000941713
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2018
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2018
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Amendment Flag	false

Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Real estate assets, at cost:
Land	$ 485,086	$ 485,956
Buildings and tenant improvements	4,609,648	4,590,490
Development in-process	178,008	88,452
Land held for development	124,558	74,765
Total real estate assets	5,397,300	5,239,663
Less-accumulated depreciation	(1,248,643)	(1,202,424)
Net real estate assets	4,148,657	4,037,239
Real estate and other assets, net, held for sale	0	14,118
Cash and cash equivalents	4,232	3,272
Restricted cash	5,686	85,061
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $1,034 and $753, respectively	19,350	24,397
Mortgages and notes receivable, net of allowance of $61 and $72, respectively	5,927	6,425
Accrued straight-line rents receivable, net of allowance of $567 and $819, respectively	213,110	200,131
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	23,212	23,897
Deferred leasing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $144,555 and $143,512, respectively	195,068	200,679
Prepaid expenses and other assets, net of accumulated depreciation of $19,200 and $19,092, respectively	37,729	28,572
Total Assets	4,652,971	4,623,791
Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Capital:
Mortgages and notes payable, net	2,055,004	2,014,333
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	215,451	228,215
Total Liabilities	2,270,455	2,242,548
Commitments and contingencies
Noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	142,323	144,009
Equity/Capital:
Preferred Stock, $.01 par value, 50,000,000 authorized shares; 8.625% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares (liquidation preference $1,000 per share), 28,887 and 28,892 shares issued and outstanding, respectively	28,887	28,892
Common Stock, $.01 par value, 200,000,000 authorized shares; 103,459,115 and 103,266,875 shares issued and outstanding, respectively	1,035	1,033
Additional paid-in capital	2,936,636	2,929,399
Distributions in excess of net income available for common stockholders	(759,788)	(747,344)
Accumulated other comprehensive income	15,956	7,838
Total Stockholders’ Equity	2,222,726	2,219,818
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	17,467	17,416
Total Equity/Capital	2,240,193	2,237,234
Total Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Total Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Capital	4,652,971	4,623,791
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Real estate assets, at cost:
Land	485,086	485,956
Buildings and tenant improvements	4,609,648	4,590,490
Development in-process	178,008	88,452
Land held for development	124,558	74,765
Total real estate assets	5,397,300	5,239,663
Less-accumulated depreciation	(1,248,643)	(1,202,424)
Net real estate assets	4,148,657	4,037,239
Real estate and other assets, net, held for sale	0	14,118
Cash and cash equivalents	4,232	3,272
Restricted cash	5,686	85,061
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $1,034 and $753, respectively	19,350	24,397
Mortgages and notes receivable, net of allowance of $61 and $72, respectively	5,927	6,425
Accrued straight-line rents receivable, net of allowance of $567 and $819, respectively	213,110	200,131
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	23,212	23,897
Deferred leasing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $144,555 and $143,512, respectively	195,068	200,679
Prepaid expenses and other assets, net of accumulated depreciation of $19,200 and $19,092, respectively	37,729	28,572
Total Assets	4,652,971	4,623,791
Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Capital:
Mortgages and notes payable, net	2,055,004	2,014,333
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	215,451	228,215
Total Liabilities	2,270,455	2,242,548
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable Operating Partnership Units:
Common Units, 2,805,508 and 2,828,704 outstanding, respectively	142,323	144,009
Series A Preferred Units (liquidation preference $1,000 per unit), 28,887 and 28,892 units issued and outstanding, respectively	28,887	28,892
Total Redeemable Operating Partnership Units	171,210	172,901
Equity/Capital:
General partner Common Units, 1,058,558 and 1,056,868 outstanding, respectively	21,778	21,830
Limited partner Common Units, 101,991,748 and 101,801,198 outstanding, respectively	2,156,105	2,161,258
Accumulated other comprehensive income	15,956	7,838
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	17,467	17,416
Total Equity/Capital	2,211,306	2,208,342
Total Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Total Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Capital	$ 4,652,971	$ 4,623,791

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Assets:
Accounts receivable allowance	$ 1,034	$ 753
Mortgages and notes receivable allowance	61	72
Accrued straight-line rents receivable allowance	567	819
Deferred leasing costs, accumulated amortization	144,555	143,512
Prepaid expenses and other assets, accumulated depreciation	$ 19,200	$ 19,092
Equity/Capital:
Series A Preferred Stock, dividend rate percentage (in hundredths)	8.625%	8.625%
Series A Preferred Stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Series A Preferred Stock, authorized shares (in shares)	50,000,000	50,000,000
Series A Preferred Stock, liquidation preference (in dollars per share)	$ 1,000	$ 1,000
Series A Preferred Stock, shares issued (in shares)	28,887	28,892
Series A Preferred Stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	28,887	28,892
Common Stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common Stock, authorized shares (in shares)	200,000,000	200,000,000
Common Stock, shares issued (in shares)	103,459,115	103,266,875
Common Stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	103,459,115	103,266,875
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Assets:
Accounts receivable allowance	$ 1,034	$ 753
Mortgages and notes receivable allowance	61	72
Accrued straight-line rents receivable allowance	567	819
Deferred leasing costs, accumulated amortization	144,555	143,512
Prepaid expenses and other assets, accumulated depreciation	$ 19,200	$ 19,092
Redeemable Operating Partnership Units: [Abstract]
Redeemable Common Units outstanding (in shares)	2,805,508	2,828,704
Series A Preferred Units, liquidation preference (in dollars per share)	$ 1,000	$ 1,000
Series A Preferred Units, issued (in shares)	28,887	28,892
Series A Preferred Units, outstanding (in shares)	28,887	28,892
Common Units: [Abstract]
General partners' capital account, units outstanding (in shares)	1,058,558	1,056,868
Limited partners' capital account, units outstanding (in shares)	101,991,748	101,801,198

Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Rental and other revenues	$ 178,792	$ 177,283	$ 359,230	$ 346,691
Operating expenses:
Rental property and other expenses	59,663	58,854	119,095	116,250
Depreciation and amortization	56,694	55,816	114,262	111,961
General and administrative	9,540	9,050	21,318	20,540
Total operating expenses	125,897	123,720	254,675	248,751
Interest expense:
Contractual	17,155	15,345	34,860	32,368
Amortization of debt issuance costs	722	809	1,408	1,649
Total interest expense	17,877	16,154	36,268	34,017
Other income:
Interest and other income	462	564	917	1,248
Gains on debt extinguishment	0	826	0	826
Total other income	462	1,390	917	2,074
Income before disposition of investment properties and activity in unconsolidated affiliates	35,480	38,799	69,204	65,997
Gains on disposition of property	16,972	0	16,972	5,332
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	546	755	1,068	1,710
Net income	52,998	39,554	87,244	73,039
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(1,381)	(1,043)	(2,269)	(1,931)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(308)	(299)	(594)	(599)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(623)	(623)	(1,246)	(1,246)
Net income available for common stockholders	$ 50,686	$ 37,589	$ 83,135	$ 69,263
Earnings per Common Share – basic:
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.49	$ 0.37	$ 0.80	$ 0.68
Weighted average Common Shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	103,428	102,475	103,376	102,109
Earnings per Common Share - diluted:
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.49	$ 0.37	$ 0.80	$ 0.68
Weighted average Common Shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)	106,267	105,386	106,216	105,026
Dividends declared per Common Share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.4625	$ 0.440	$ 0.9250	$ 0.88
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Rental and other revenues	$ 178,792	$ 177,283	$ 359,230	$ 346,691
Operating expenses:
Rental property and other expenses	59,663	58,854	119,095	116,250
Depreciation and amortization	56,694	55,816	114,262	111,961
General and administrative	9,540	9,050	21,318	20,540
Total operating expenses	125,897	123,720	254,675	248,751
Interest expense:
Contractual	17,155	15,345	34,860	32,368
Amortization of debt issuance costs	722	809	1,408	1,649
Total interest expense	17,877	16,154	36,268	34,017
Other income:
Interest and other income	462	564	917	1,248
Gains on debt extinguishment	0	826	0	826
Total other income	462	1,390	917	2,074
Income before disposition of investment properties and activity in unconsolidated affiliates	35,480	38,799	69,204	65,997
Gains on disposition of property	16,972	0	16,972	5,332
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	546	755	1,068	1,710
Net income	52,998	39,554	87,244	73,039
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(308)	(299)	(594)	(599)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(623)	(623)	(1,246)	(1,246)
Net income available for common unitholders	$ 52,067	$ 38,632	$ 85,404	$ 71,194
Earnings per Common Unit - basic:
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.49	$ 0.37	$ 0.81	$ 0.68
Weighted average Common Units outstanding - basic (in shares)	105,826	104,900	105,778	104,536
Earnings per Common Unit - diluted:
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.49	$ 0.37	$ 0.81	$ 0.68
Weighted average Common Units outstanding - diluted (in shares)	105,858	104,977	105,807	104,617
Distributions declared per Common Unit (in dollars per unit)	$ 0.4625	$ 0.44	$ 0.9250	$ 0.88

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Comprehensive income:
Net income	$ 52,998	$ 39,554	$ 87,244	$ 73,039
Other comprehensive income:
Unrealized gains/(losses) on cash flow hedges	862	(136)	8,739	316
Amortization of cash flow hedges	(515)	297	(621)	781
Total other comprehensive income	347	161	8,118	1,097
Total comprehensive income	53,345	39,715	95,362	74,136
Less-comprehensive (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,689)	(1,342)	(2,863)	(2,530)
Comprehensive income attributable to common stockholders/Comprehensive income attributable to common unitholders	51,656	38,373	92,499	71,606
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Comprehensive income:
Net income	52,998	39,554	87,244	73,039
Other comprehensive income:
Unrealized gains/(losses) on cash flow hedges	862	(136)	8,739	316
Amortization of cash flow hedges	(515)	297	(621)	781
Total other comprehensive income	347	161	8,118	1,097
Total comprehensive income	53,345	39,715	95,362	74,136
Less-comprehensive (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(308)	(299)	(594)	(599)
Comprehensive income attributable to common stockholders/Comprehensive income attributable to common unitholders	$ 53,037	$ 39,416	$ 94,768	$ 73,537

Consolidated Statements of Equity/Capital - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares [Member]	General Partners' Common Units [Member] Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Limited Partners' Common Units [Member] Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member] Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Affiliates [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Affiliates [Member] Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Distributions in Excess of Net Income Available for Common Stockholders [Member]
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016			101,665,554
Balance at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 2,154,316	$ 2,125,396	$ 1,017	$ 28,920	$ 21,023	$ 2,081,463	$ 2,850,881	$ 4,949	$ 4,949	$ 17,961	$ 17,961	$ (749,412)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuances of Common Units, net of issuance costs and tax withholdings		69,833			698	69,135
Distributions on Common Units		(92,087)			(920)	(91,167)
Distributions on Preferred Units		(1,246)			(12)	(1,234)
Issuances of Common Stock, net of issuance costs and tax withholdings - Shares			1,453,935
Issuances of Common Stock, net of issuance costs and tax withholdings	69,833		$ 15				69,818
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock - Shares			6,000
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock	305						305
Dividends on Common Stock	(89,952)											(89,952)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(1,246)											(1,246)
Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership to fair value	287						287
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(858)	(858)								(858)	(858)
Issuances of restricted stock - shares			110,748
Issuances of restricted stock	0
Redemptions/repurchases of Preferred Stock	(15)			(15)
Share-based compensation expense, net of forfeitures	4,837	4,837	$ 0		48	4,789	4,837
Adjustment of Redeemable Common Units to fair value and contributions/distributions from/to the General Partner		796			7	789
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(1,931)											(1,931)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	0	0			(6)	(593)				599	599	(599)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	73,039	73,039			730	72,309						73,039
Other comprehensive income	1,097	1,097						1,097	1,097
Total comprehensive income	74,136	74,136
Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2017			103,236,237
Balance at Jun. 30, 2017	$ 2,209,712	2,180,807	$ 1,032	28,905	21,568	2,135,491	2,926,128	6,046	6,046	17,702	17,702	(770,101)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017	103,266,875		103,266,875
Balance at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 2,237,234	2,208,342	$ 1,033	28,892	21,830	2,161,258	2,929,399	7,838	7,838	17,416	17,416	(747,344)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuances of Common Units, net of issuance costs and tax withholdings		415			4	411
Distributions on Common Units		(97,800)			(978)	(96,822)
Distributions on Preferred Units		(1,246)			(12)	(1,234)
Issuances of Common Stock, net of issuance costs and tax withholdings - Shares			(3,396)
Issuances of Common Stock, net of issuance costs and tax withholdings	415		$ 0				415
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock - Shares			23,196
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock	1,084						1,084
Dividends on Common Stock	(95,579)											(95,579)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(1,246)											(1,246)
Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership to fair value	272						272
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(543)	(543)								(543)	(543)
Issuances of restricted stock - shares			172,440
Issuances of restricted stock	0
Redemptions/repurchases of Preferred Stock	(5)			(5)
Share-based compensation expense, net of forfeitures	5,468	5,468	$ 2		55	5,413	5,466
Adjustment of Redeemable Common Units to fair value and contributions/distributions from/to the General Partner		1,308			13	1,295
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(2,269)											(2,269)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	0	0			(6)	(588)				594	594	(594)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	87,244	87,244			872	86,372						87,244
Other comprehensive income	8,118	8,118						8,118	8,118
Total comprehensive income	$ 95,362	95,362
Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2018	103,459,115		103,459,115
Balance at Jun. 30, 2018	$ 2,240,193	$ 2,211,306	$ 1,035	$ 28,887	$ 21,778	$ 2,156,105	$ 2,936,636	$ 15,956	$ 15,956	$ 17,467	$ 17,467	$ (759,788)

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Operating activities:
Net income	$ 87,244	$ 73,039
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	114,262	111,961
Amortization of lease incentives and acquisition-related intangible assets and liabilities	(960)	(345)
Share-based compensation expense	5,468	4,837
Allowance for losses on accounts and accrued straight-line rents receivable	192	110
Accrued interest on mortgages and notes receivable	(225)	(274)
Amortization of debt issuance costs	1,408	1,649
Amortization of cash flow hedges	(621)	781
Amortization of mortgages and notes payable fair value adjustments	694	139
Gains on debt extinguishment	0	(826)
Net gains on disposition of property	(16,972)	(5,332)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(1,068)	(1,710)
Distributions of earnings from unconsolidated affiliates	1,706	2,907
Settlement of cash flow hedges	7,216	7,322
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	4,469	4,358
Prepaid expenses and other assets	(5,232)	(1,455)
Accrued straight-line rents receivable	(12,707)	(15,228)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	(916)	(9,818)
Net cash provided by operating activities	183,958	172,115
Investing activities:
Investments in acquired real estate and related intangible assets, net of cash acquired	(50,649)	0
Investments in development in-process	(85,717)	(97,096)
Investments in tenant improvements and deferred leasing costs	(61,990)	(54,119)
Investments in building improvements	(34,652)	(31,070)
Net proceeds from disposition of real estate assets	33,453	11,532
Distributions of capital from unconsolidated affiliates	105	7,445
Repayments of mortgages and notes receivable	758	2,357
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	0	(172)
Changes in other investing activities	(3,147)	(4,033)
Net cash used in investing activities	(201,839)	(165,156)
Financing activities:
Dividends on Common Stock	(95,579)	(89,952)
Special dividend on Common Stock	0	(81,205)
Redemptions/repurchases of Preferred Stock	(5)	(15)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(1,246)	(1,246)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(2,599)	(2,495)
Special distribution to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	0	(2,271)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(543)	(858)
Proceeds from the issuance of Common Stock	2,052	74,987
Costs paid for the issuance of Common Stock	(28)	(1,199)
Repurchase of shares related to tax withholdings	(1,609)	(3,955)
Borrowings on revolving credit facility	257,400	425,300
Repayments of revolving credit facility	(360,400)	(314,300)
Borrowings on mortgages and notes payable	345,863	456,001
Repayments of mortgages and notes payable	(200,892)	(506,679)
Payments of debt extinguishment costs	0	(57)
Changes in debt issuance costs and other financing activities	(2,948)	(3,688)
Net cash used in financing activities	(60,534)	(51,632)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash	(78,415)	(44,673)
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of the period	88,333	78,631
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of the period	9,918	33,958
Reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash:
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period	4,232	13,346
Restricted cash at end of the period	5,686	20,612
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest, net of amounts capitalized	33,273	34,930
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities:
Unrealized gains on cash flow hedges	8,739	316
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock	1,084	305
Changes in accrued capital expenditures	(10,574)	(21,961)
Write-off of fully depreciated real estate assets	48,011	28,449
Write-off of fully amortized leasing costs	19,717	15,023
Write-off of fully amortized debt issuance costs	2,705	4,324
Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership to fair value	(272)	(287)
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Operating activities:
Net income	87,244	73,039
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	114,262	111,961
Amortization of lease incentives and acquisition-related intangible assets and liabilities	(960)	(345)
Share-based compensation expense	5,468	4,837
Allowance for losses on accounts and accrued straight-line rents receivable	192	110
Accrued interest on mortgages and notes receivable	(225)	(274)
Amortization of debt issuance costs	1,408	1,649
Amortization of cash flow hedges	(621)	781
Amortization of mortgages and notes payable fair value adjustments	694	139
Gains on debt extinguishment	0	(826)
Net gains on disposition of property	(16,972)	(5,332)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(1,068)	(1,710)
Distributions of earnings from unconsolidated affiliates	1,706	2,907
Settlement of cash flow hedges	7,216	7,322
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	4,469	4,358
Prepaid expenses and other assets	(5,232)	(1,455)
Accrued straight-line rents receivable	(12,707)	(15,228)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	(916)	(9,818)
Net cash provided by operating activities	183,958	172,115
Investing activities:
Investments in acquired real estate and related intangible assets, net of cash acquired	(50,649)	0
Investments in development in-process	(85,717)	(97,096)
Investments in tenant improvements and deferred leasing costs	(61,990)	(54,119)
Investments in building improvements	(34,652)	(31,070)
Net proceeds from disposition of real estate assets	33,453	11,532
Distributions of capital from unconsolidated affiliates	105	7,445
Repayments of mortgages and notes receivable	758	2,357
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	0	(172)
Changes in other investing activities	(3,147)	(4,033)
Net cash used in investing activities	(201,839)	(165,156)
Financing activities:
Distributions on Common Units	(97,800)	(92,087)
Special distribution on Common Units	0	(83,149)
Redemptions/repurchases of Preferred Units	(5)	(15)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(1,246)	(1,246)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(543)	(858)
Proceeds from the issuance of Common Units	2,052	74,987
Costs paid for the issuance of Common Units	(28)	(1,199)
Repurchase of units related to tax withholdings	(1,609)	(3,955)
Borrowings on revolving credit facility	257,400	425,300
Repayments of revolving credit facility	(360,400)	(314,300)
Borrowings on mortgages and notes payable	345,863	456,001
Repayments of mortgages and notes payable	(200,892)	(506,679)
Payments of debt extinguishment costs	0	(57)
Changes in debt issuance costs and other financing activities	(3,326)	(4,375)
Net cash used in financing activities	(60,534)	(51,632)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash	(78,415)	(44,673)
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of the period	88,333	78,631
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of the period	9,918	33,958
Reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash:
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period	4,232	13,346
Restricted cash at end of the period	5,686	20,612
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest, net of amounts capitalized	33,273	34,930
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities:
Unrealized gains on cash flow hedges	8,739	316
Changes in accrued capital expenditures	(10,574)	(21,961)
Write-off of fully depreciated real estate assets	48,011	28,449
Write-off of fully amortized leasing costs	19,717	15,023
Write-off of fully amortized debt issuance costs	2,705	4,324
Adjustment of Redeemable Common Units to fair value	$ (1,686)	$ (1,156)

Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies	Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies Description of Business Highwoods Properties, Inc. (the “Company”) is a fully integrated real estate investment trust (“REIT”) that provides leasing, management, development, construction and other customer-related services for its properties and for third parties. The Company conducts its activities through Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership (the “Operating Partnership”). At June 30, 2018, we owned or had an interest in 30.5 million rentable square feet of in-service properties, 2.0 million rentable square feet of properties under development and approximately 400 acres of development land. The Company is the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership. At June 30, 2018, the Company owned all of the Preferred Units and 103.1 million, or 97.4%, of the Common Units in the Operating Partnership. Limited partners owned the remaining 2.8 million Common Units. During the six months ended June 30, 2018, the Company redeemed 23,196 Common Units for a like number of shares of Common Stock. Basis of Presentation Our Consolidated Financial Statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). The Company's Consolidated Financial Statements include the Operating Partnership, wholly owned subsidiaries and those entities in which the Company has the controlling interest. The Operating Partnership's Consolidated Financial Statements include wholly owned subsidiaries and those entities in which the Operating Partnership has the controlling interest. All intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated. The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements and accompanying unaudited consolidated financial information, in the opinion of management, contain all adjustments (including normal recurring accruals) necessary for a fair presentation of our financial position, results of operations and cash flows. We have condensed or omitted certain notes and other information from the interim Consolidated Financial Statements presented in this Quarterly Report as permitted by SEC rules and regulations. These Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with our 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K. Use of Estimates The preparation of consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in our Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Insurance Beginning in 2018, we are primarily self-insured for health care claims for eligible participating employees. We have stop-loss coverage to limit our exposure to significant claims on a per claim and annual aggregate basis. We determine our liabilities for claims, including incurred but not reported losses, based on all relevant information, including actuarial estimates of claim liabilities. At June 30, 2018, a reserve of $0.7 million was recorded to cover estimated reported and unreported claims. 1. Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies – Continued Recently Issued Accounting Standards The Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued an accounting standards update ("ASU") that superseded the revenue recognition requirements under previous guidance, which we adopted as of January 1, 2018. Several updates have been issued subsequently which were intended to promote a more consistent interpretation and application of the principles outlined in the ASU. The ASU requires the use of a new five-step model to recognize revenue from contracts with customers. The five-step model requires that we identify the contract with the customer, identify the performance obligations in the contract, determine the transaction price, allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract and recognize revenue when we satisfy the performance obligations. We are also required to disclose information regarding the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. In analyzing our contracts with customers, we determined that the most material potential impact from the adoption of this ASU would be in how revenue is recognized for sales of real estate with continuing involvement. Prior to the adoption of this ASU, profit for such sales transactions was recognized and then reduced by the maximum exposure to loss related to the nature of the continuing involvement at the time of sale. Upon adoption of this ASU, any continuing involvement must be analyzed as a separate performance obligation in the contract and a portion of the sales price allocated to each performance obligation. When the continuing involvement performance obligation is satisfied, the sales price allocated to it will be recognized. We had no sales of real estate with continuing involvement during the first six months of 2018 or prior periods; however, we will use such methodology for any future real estate sales with continuing involvement. Our internal controls with respect to accounting for such sales have been updated accordingly. The adoption of this ASU resulted in no other changes with respect to the timing of revenue recognition or internal controls related to our other contracts with customers which include primarily management, development and construction fees and transient parking income, all of which are not material to our Consolidated Financial Statements. As such, there is no cumulative-effect adjustment from the adoption of this ASU reflected in our Consolidated Financial Statements. The FASB issued an ASU that requires entities to show changes in total cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents in the statement of cash flows. As a result, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents will be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning of period and end of period balances rather than presented as transfers between cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents in the statement of cash flows. We adopted the ASU as of January 1, 2018 with retrospective application to our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. Accordingly, our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows present a reconciliation of the changes in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash. The effect of the adoption resulted in an $8.5 million increase in net cash used in investing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2017. Restricted cash represents cash deposits that are legally restricted or held by third parties on our behalf, such as construction-related escrows, property disposition proceeds set aside and designated or intended to fund future tax-deferred exchanges of qualifying real estate investments, escrows and reserves for debt service, real estate taxes and property insurance established pursuant to certain mortgage financing arrangements and any deposits made with lenders to unencumber secured properties. The FASB issued an ASU that clarifies and narrows the definition of a business used in determining whether to account for a transaction as an asset acquisition or business combination. The guidance requires evaluation of the fair value of the assets acquired to determine if it is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or a group of similar identifiable assets. If so, the transferred assets would not be a business. The guidance also requires a business to include at least one substantive process and narrows the definition of outputs. We adopted the ASU prospectively as of January 1, 2018. We expect that the majority of our future acquisitions would not meet the definition of a business; therefore, the related acquisition costs would be capitalized as part of the purchase price. The FASB issued an ASU that clarifies when changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award must be accounted for as modifications. The guidance requires modification accounting if the value, vesting conditions or classification of the award changes. We adopted the ASU as of January 1, 2018 with no effect on our Consolidated Financial Statements. 1. Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies – Continued The FASB issued an ASU that sets out the principles for the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of leases for both lessees and lessors. We are continuing to refine our analysis of the impact of the guidance on our Consolidated Financial Statements and the related internal controls and have an active project team working on the evaluation and implementation of the guidance. We continue to monitor FASB activity with respect to possible amendments to this ASU, particularly the FASB’s recent vote to finalize an amendment providing an optional practical expedient to lessors that removes the requirement to separate lease and non-lease components when the pattern of recognition of those components are the same and, when combined as a single unit, those would be classified as operating leases. Should the proposed amendment be issued, we expect to elect the practical expedient as our initial analysis of our leases indicates that the pattern of recognition of our material non-lease components (primarily cost recovery income) are the same as the lease components and will not require the use of the five-step revenue recognition model discussed above. We currently believe that the adoption of the ASU will not significantly change the accounting or the related internal controls for rental and other revenues from operating leases where we are the lessor, and that such leases will be accounted for in a manner similar to existing standards with the underlying leased asset being reported and recognized as a real estate asset. In addition, the guidance requires lessors to capitalize and amortize only incremental direct leasing costs. As a result, upon the adoption of the ASU, we will no longer be able to capitalize and amortize certain leasing related costs and instead will expense these costs as incurred. We are in the process of evaluating the impact to our results of operations of expensing such costs and any necessary changes to our related internal controls. The ASU is required to be adopted in 2019 using a modified retrospective approach which requires a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. Leases where we are the lessee include primarily our operating ground leases. We expect to record right of use assets and the related liabilities for certain of these ground leases. We will continue to refine our evaluation and finalize our implementation plan throughout the remainder of 2018. The FASB issued an ASU that eliminates the requirement to separately measure and report hedge ineffectiveness and generally requires the entire change in the fair value of a hedging instrument to be presented in the same income statement line as the hedged item when the hedged item affects earnings. The ASU is required to be adopted in 2019 using a modified retrospective approach. We do not expect such adoption to have a material effect on our Consolidated Financial Statements. The FASB issued an ASU that requires, among other things, the use of a new current expected credit loss ("CECL") model in determining our allowances for doubtful accounts with respect to accounts receivable, accrued straight-line rents receivable and mortgages and notes receivable. The CECL model requires that we estimate our lifetime expected credit loss with respect to these receivables and record allowances that, when deducted from the balance of the receivables, represent the net amounts expected to be collected. We will also be required to disclose information about how we developed the allowances, including changes in the factors (e.g., portfolio mix, credit trends, unemployment, gross domestic product, etc.) that influenced our estimate of expected credit losses and the reasons for those changes. We will apply the ASU’s provisions as a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings upon adoption in 2020. We are in the process of evaluating this ASU.

Real Estate Assets	6 Months Ended
Real Estate Assets	Jun. 30, 2018
Real Estate [Abstract]
Real Estate Assets	Real Estate Assets Acquisitions During the first quarter of 2018, we acquired two development parcels totaling approximately nine acres in Nashville for an aggregate purchase price, including capitalized acquisition costs, of $50.6 million. Dispositions During the second quarter of 2018, we sold a building and various land parcels for an aggregate sale price of $34.0 million and recorded aggregate gains on disposition of property of $17.0 million.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for real estate owned (as defined). Generally, the largest component of real estate owned by lenders is assets taken in settlement of troubled loans through surrender or foreclosure. Real estate investments, real estate loans that qualify as investments in real estate, and premises that are no longer used in operations may also be included in real estate owned.

+ References + Details

Mortgages and Notes Receivable	6 Months Ended
Mortgages and Notes Receivable	Jun. 30, 2018
Receivables [Abstract]
Mortgages and Notes Receivable	Mortgages and Notes Receivable Mortgages and notes receivable were $5.9 million and $6.4 million at June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. We evaluate the ability to collect our mortgages and notes receivable by monitoring the leasing statistics and/or market fundamentals of these assets. As of June 30, 2018, our mortgages and notes receivable were not in default and there were no other indicators of impairment.

Intangible Assets and Below Market Lease Liabilities

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Intangible Assets and Below Market Lease Liabilities

The following table sets forth total intangible assets and acquisition-related below market lease liabilities, net of accumulated amortization:



	June 30, 2018			December 31, 2017
Assets:
Deferred leasing costs (including lease incentives and above market lease and in-place lease acquisition-related intangible assets)	$	339,623		$	344,191
Less accumulated amortization	(144,555		)	(143,512		)
	$	195,068		$	200,679
Liabilities (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities):
Acquisition-related below market lease liabilities	$	58,847		$	59,947
Less accumulated amortization	(30,133		)	(28,214		)
	$	28,714		$	31,733

The following table sets forth amortization of intangible assets and below market lease liabilities:



	Three Months Ended June 30,						Six Months Ended June 30,
	2018			2017			2018			2017
Amortization of deferred leasing costs and acquisition-related intangible assets (in depreciation and amortization)	$	9,207		$	10,133		$	18,702		$	20,752
Amortization of lease incentives (in rental and other revenues)	$	476		$	443		$	905		$	840
Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets (in rental and other revenues)	$	429		$	675		$	877		$	1,711
Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets (in rental property and other expenses)	$	139		$	139		$	276		$	276
Amortization of acquisition-related below market lease liabilities (in rental and other revenues)	$	(1,495	)	$	(1,592	)	$	(3,018	)	$	(3,172	)

The following table sets forth scheduled future amortization of intangible assets and below market lease liabilities:



	Amortization of Deferred Leasing Costs and Acquisition-Related Intangible Assets (in Depreciation and Amortization)		Amortization of Lease Incentives (in Rental and Other Revenues)		Amortization of Acquisition-Related Intangible Assets (in Rental and Other Revenues)		Amortization of Acquisition-Related Intangible Assets (in Rental Property and Other Expenses)		Amortization of Acquisition-Related Below Market Lease Liabilities (in Rental and Other Revenues)
July 1 through December 31, 2018	$	18,504	$	866	$	784	$	277	$	(2,918	)
2019	32,788		1,578		1,273		553		(5,446		)
2020	28,231		1,311		959		518		(5,186		)
2021	23,756		1,086		632		—		(4,377		)
2022	19,520		872		462		—		(3,264		)
Thereafter	54,783		4,907		1,408		—		(7,523		)
	$	177,582	$	10,620	$	5,518	$	1,348	$	(28,714	)
Weighted average remaining amortization periods as of June 30, 2018 (in years)	7.5		10.0		6.5		2.5		6.2

Mortgages and Notes Payable

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Mortgages and Notes Payable

The following table sets forth our mortgages and notes payable:



	June 30, 2018			December 31, 2017
Secured indebtedness	$	98,089		$	98,981
Unsecured indebtedness	1,967,062			1,923,513
Less-unamortized debt issuance costs	(10,147		)	(8,161		)
Total mortgages and notes payable, net	$	2,055,004		$	2,014,333

At June 30, 2018, our secured mortgage loans were collateralized by real estate assets with an aggregate undepreciated book value of $147.4 million.

Our $600.0 million unsecured revolving credit facility is scheduled to mature in January 2022 and includes an accordion feature that allows for an additional $400.0 million of borrowing capacity subject to additional lender commitments. Assuming no defaults have occurred, we have an option to extend the maturity for two additional six-month periods. The interest rate at our current credit ratings is LIBOR plus 100 basis points and the annual facility fee is 20 basis points. There was $142.0 million and $136.0 million outstanding under our revolving credit facility at June 30, 2018 and July 17, 2018, respectively. At both June 30, 2018 and July 17, 2018, we had $0.4 million of outstanding letters of credit, which reduces the availability on our revolving credit facility. As a result, the unused capacity of our revolving credit facility at June 30, 2018 and July 17, 2018 was $457.6 million and $463.6 million, respectively.

During the second quarter of 2018, we paid off at maturity $200.0 million principal amount of 7.5% unsecured notes.

During the first quarter of 2018, the Operating Partnership issued $350.0 million aggregate principal amount of 4.125% notes due 2028, less original issuance discount of $4.1 million. These notes were priced to yield 4.271%. Underwriting fees and other expenses were incurred that aggregated $2.9 million; these costs were deferred and will be amortized over the term of the notes.

We are currently in compliance with financial covenants with respect to our consolidated debt.

We have considered our short-term liquidity needs and the adequacy of our estimated cash flows from operating activities and other available financing sources to meet these needs. We intend to meet these short-term liquidity requirements through a combination of the following:


•	available cash and cash equivalents;


•	cash flows from operating activities;


•	issuance of debt securities by the Operating Partnership (some of which debt securities may be hedged to a fixed interest rate pursuant to the forward-starting swaps referred to in Note 6);


•	issuance of secured debt;


•	bank term loans;


•	borrowings under our revolving credit facility;


•	issuance of equity securities by the Company or the Operating Partnership; and


•	the disposition of non-core assets.

Derivative Financial Instruments

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

Derivative Financial Instruments

During the second quarter of 2018, we entered into $150.0 million notional amount of forward-starting swaps that effectively lock the underlying 10-year treasury rate at 2.91% with respect to a planned issuance of debt securities by the Operating Partnership expected to occur prior to June 11, 2019.

During 2017, we entered into $150.0 million notional amount of forward-starting swaps that effectively locked the underlying 10-year treasury rate at 2.44% with respect to a planned issuance of debt securities by the Operating Partnership. Upon issuance of the $350.0 million aggregate principal amount of 4.125% notes due 2028 during the first quarter of 2018, we terminated the forward-starting swaps resulting in an unrealized gain of $7.0 million in accumulated other comprehensive income and a gain of $0.2 million of hedge ineffectiveness in interest expense.

The counterparties under our swaps are major financial institutions. The swap agreements contain a provision whereby if we default on certain of our indebtedness and which default results in repayment of such indebtedness being, or becoming capable of being, accelerated by the lender, then we could also be declared in default on our swaps.

Our interest rate swaps have been designated as and are being accounted for as cash flow hedges with the effective portion of changes in fair value recorded in other comprehensive income each reporting period. No significant gain or loss was recognized related to hedge ineffectiveness or to amounts excluded from effectiveness testing on our cash flow hedges during the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017. We have no collateral requirements related to our interest rate swaps.

Amounts reported in accumulated other comprehensive income related to derivatives will be reclassified to interest expense as interest payments are made on our debt. During the period from July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2019, we estimate that $2.5 million will be reclassified as a decrease to interest expense.

The following table sets forth the fair value of our derivatives:



	June 30, 2018		December 31, 2017
Derivatives:
Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges in prepaid expenses and other assets:
Interest rate swaps	$	2,871	$	1,286

The following table sets forth the effect of our cash flow hedges on accumulated other comprehensive income and interest expense:



	Three Months Ended June 30,						Six Months Ended June 30,
	2018			2017			2018			2017
Derivatives Designated as Cash Flow Hedges:
Amount of unrealized gains/(losses) recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income on derivatives (effective portion):
Interest rate swaps	$	862		$	(136	)	$	8,739		$	316
Amount of (gains)/losses reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income into contractual interest expense (effective portion):
Interest rate swaps	$	(515	)	$	297		$	(621	)	$	781

Noncontrolling Interests

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract]

Noncontrolling Interests

Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Affiliates

At June 30, 2018, our noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates relate to our joint venture partner's 50.0% interest in office properties in Richmond. Our joint venture partner is an unrelated third party.

Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership

The following table sets forth the Company's noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership:



	Six Months Ended June 30,
	2018			2017
Beginning noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	$	144,009		$	144,802
Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership to fair value	(272		)	(287		)
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock	(1,084		)	(305		)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	2,269			1,931
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(2,599		)	(2,495		)
Total noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	$	142,323		$	143,646

The following table sets forth net income available for common stockholders and transfers from the Company's noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership:



	Three Months Ended June 30,				Six Months Ended June 30,
	2018		2017		2018		2017
Net income available for common stockholders	$	50,686	$	37,589	$	83,135	$	69,263
Increase in additional paid in capital from conversions of Common Units to Common Stock	182		203		1,084		305
Change from net income available for common stockholders and transfers from noncontrolling interests	$	50,868	$	37,792	$	84,219	$	69,568

Disclosure About Fair Value of Financial Instruments

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Disclosure About Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The following summarizes the levels of inputs that we use to measure fair value.

Level 1. Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Our Level 1 asset is our investment in marketable securities that we use to pay benefits under our non-qualified deferred compensation plan. Our Level 1 liability is our non-qualified deferred compensation obligation. The Company's Level 1 noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership relate to the ownership of Common Units by various individuals and entities other than the Company.

Level 2. Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices in markets that are not active or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the related assets or liabilities.

Our Level 2 assets include the fair value of our mortgages and notes receivable and interest rate swaps. Our Level 2 liabilities include the fair value of our mortgages and notes payable.


8.	Disclosure About Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Continued

The fair value of mortgages and notes receivable and mortgages and notes payable is estimated by the income approach utilizing contractual cash flows and market-based interest rates to approximate the price that would be paid in an orderly transaction between market participants. The fair value of interest rate swaps is determined using the market standard methodology of netting the discounted future fixed cash receipts and the discounted expected variable cash payments. The variable cash payments of interest rate swaps are based on the expectation of future interest rates (forward curves) derived from observed market interest rate curves. In addition, credit valuation adjustments are considered in the fair values to account for potential nonperformance risk, but were concluded to not be significant inputs to the calculation for the periods presented.

The following table sets forth our assets and liabilities and the Company's noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership that are measured or disclosed at fair value within the fair value hierarchy.



			Level 1		Level 2
	Total		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets or Liabilities		Significant Observable Inputs
Fair Value at June 30, 2018:
Assets:
Mortgages and notes receivable, at fair value (1)	$	5,927	$	—	$	5,927
Interest rate swaps (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	2,871		—		2,871
Marketable securities of non-qualified deferred compensation plan (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	2,371		2,371		—
Total Assets	$	11,169	$	2,371	$	8,798
Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership	$	142,323	$	142,323	$	—
Liabilities:
Mortgages and notes payable, net, at fair value (1)	$	2,024,245	$	—	$	2,024,245
Non-qualified deferred compensation obligation (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	2,371		2,371		—
Total Liabilities	$	2,026,616	$	2,371	$	2,024,245



Fair Value at December 31, 2017:
Assets:
Mortgages and notes receivable, at fair value (1)	$	6,425	$	—	$	6,425
Interest rate swaps (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	1,286		—		1,286
Marketable securities of non-qualified deferred compensation plan (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	2,388		2,388		—
Total Assets	$	10,099	$	2,388	$	7,711
Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership	$	144,009	$	144,009	$	—
Liabilities:
Mortgages and notes payable, net, at fair value (1)	$	2,015,689	$	—	$	2,015,689
Non-qualified deferred compensation obligation (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	2,388		2,388		—
Total Liabilities	$	2,018,077	$	2,388	$	2,015,689

__________

(1) Amounts recorded at historical cost on our Consolidated Balance Sheets at June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial assets and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the entity is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risks are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information.

+ References + Details

Share-Based Payments	6 Months Ended
Share-Based Payments	Jun. 30, 2018
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]
Share-Based Payments	Share-Based Payments During the six months ended June 30, 2018, the Company granted 94,984 shares of time-based restricted stock and 77,456 shares of total return-based restricted stock with weighted average grant date fair values per share of $43.01 and $40.81, respectively. We recorded share-based compensation expense of $1.2 million and $1.1 million during the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and $5.5 million and $4.8 million during the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. At June 30, 2018, there was $7.0 million of total unrecognized share-based compensation costs, which will be recognized over a weighted average remaining contractual term of 2.5 years.

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract]

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

The following table sets forth the components of accumulated other comprehensive income:



	Three Months Ended June 30,						Six Months Ended June 30,
	2018			2017			2018			2017
Cash flow hedges:
Beginning balance	$	15,609		$	5,885		$	7,838		$	4,949
Unrealized gains/(losses) on cash flow hedges	862			(136		)	8,739			316
Amortization of cash flow hedges (1)	(515		)	297			(621		)	781
Total accumulated other comprehensive income	$	15,956		$	6,046		$	15,956		$	6,046

__________

(1) Amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income into contractual interest expense.

Real Estate and Other Assets Held For Sale

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Discontinued Operations and Disposal Groups [Abstract]

Real Estate and Other Assets Held For Sale

The following table sets forth the assets held for sale at June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, which are considered non-core:



	June 30, 2018		December 31, 2017
Assets:
Land	$	—	$	870
Buildings and tenant improvements	—		21,318
Land held for development	—		355
Less-accumulated depreciation	—		(9,304		)
Net real estate assets	—		13,239
Accrued straight-line rents receivable	—		591
Deferred leasing costs, net	—		253
Prepaid expenses and other assets	—		35
Real estate and other assets, net, held for sale	$	—	$	14,118

Earnings Per Share and Per Unit

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Earnings Per Share and Per Unit

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share of the Company:



	Three Months Ended June 30,						Six Months Ended June 30,
	2018			2017			2018			2017
Earnings per Common Share - basic:
Numerator:
Net income	$	52,998		$	39,554		$	87,244		$	73,039
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(1,381		)	(1,043		)	(2,269		)	(1,931		)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(308		)	(299		)	(594		)	(599		)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(623		)	(623		)	(1,246		)	(1,246		)
Net income available for common stockholders	$	50,686		$	37,589		$	83,135		$	69,263
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Share – weighted average shares	103,428			102,475			103,376			102,109
Net income available for common stockholders	$	0.49		$	0.37		$	0.80		$	0.68
Earnings per Common Share - diluted:
Numerator:
Net income	$	52,998		$	39,554		$	87,244		$	73,039
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(308		)	(299		)	(594		)	(599		)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(623		)	(623		)	(1,246		)	(1,246		)
Net income available for common stockholders before net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	$	52,067		$	38,632		$	85,404		$	71,194
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Share – weighted average shares	103,428			102,475			103,376			102,109
Add:
Stock options using the treasury method	32			77			29			81
Noncontrolling interests Common Units	2,807			2,834			2,811			2,836
Denominator for diluted earnings per Common Share – adjusted weighted average shares and assumed conversions (1)	106,267			105,386			106,216			105,026
Net income available for common stockholders	$	0.49		$	0.37		$	0.80		$	0.68

__________


(1)	Includes all unvested restricted stock where dividends on such restricted stock are non-forfeitable.


12.	Earnings Per Share and Per Unit - Continued

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per unit of the Operating Partnership:



	Three Months Ended June 30,						Six Months Ended June 30,
	2018			2017			2018			2017
Earnings per Common Unit - basic:
Numerator:
Net income	$	52,998		$	39,554		$	87,244		$	73,039
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(308		)	(299		)	(594		)	(599		)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(623		)	(623		)	(1,246		)	(1,246		)
Net income available for common unitholders	$	52,067		$	38,632		$	85,404		$	71,194
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Unit – weighted average units	105,826			104,900			105,778			104,536
Net income available for common unitholders	$	0.49		$	0.37		$	0.81		$	0.68
Earnings per Common Unit - diluted:
Numerator:
Net income	$	52,998		$	39,554		$	87,244		$	73,039
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(308		)	(299		)	(594		)	(599		)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(623		)	(623		)	(1,246		)	(1,246		)
Net income available for common unitholders	$	52,067		$	38,632		$	85,404		$	71,194
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Unit – weighted average units	105,826			104,900			105,778			104,536
Add:
Stock options using the treasury method	32			77			29			81
Denominator for diluted earnings per Common Unit – adjusted weighted average units and assumed conversions (1)	105,858			104,977			105,807			104,617
Net income available for common unitholders	$	0.49		$	0.37		$	0.81		$	0.68

__________


(1)	Includes all unvested restricted stock where distributions on such restricted stock are non-forfeitable.

Segment Information

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Segment Information

The following tables summarize the rental and other revenues and net operating income, the primary industry property-level performance metric used by our chief operating decision maker and which is defined as rental and other revenues less rental property and other expenses, for each of our reportable segments.



	Three Months Ended June 30,				Six Months Ended June 30,
	2018		2017		2018		2017
Rental and Other Revenues:
Office:
Atlanta	$	34,777	$	35,347	$	70,260	$	69,556
Greensboro	5,378		5,284		11,404		10,586
Memphis	9,899		11,823		20,107		23,618
Nashville	30,669		28,836		61,392		52,526
Orlando	13,451		12,436		26,751		24,874
Pittsburgh	15,323		14,852		30,605		29,701
Raleigh	29,282		30,097		59,086		59,643
Richmond	10,893		11,106		21,942		22,048
Tampa	25,841		24,250		51,266		47,506
Total Office Segment	175,513		174,031		352,813		340,058
Other	3,279		3,252		6,417		6,633
Total Rental and Other Revenues	$	178,792	$	177,283	$	359,230	$	346,691



Net Operating Income:
Office:
Atlanta	$	21,608		$	22,544		$	44,278		$	44,550
Greensboro	3,434			3,391			7,445			6,749
Memphis	6,173			7,272			12,818			14,544
Nashville	22,427			21,626			44,410			38,250
Orlando	8,093			7,430			16,356			15,008
Pittsburgh	9,249			8,949			18,220			17,574
Raleigh	21,494			21,920			43,366			43,385
Richmond	7,659			7,845			15,240			15,466
Tampa	16,500			15,203			33,260			30,325
Total Office Segment	116,637			116,180			235,393			225,851
Other	2,492			2,249			4,742			4,590
Total Net Operating Income	119,129			118,429			240,135			230,441
Reconciliation to income before disposition of investment properties and activity in unconsolidated affiliates:
Depreciation and amortization	(56,694		)	(55,816		)	(114,262		)	(111,961		)
General and administrative expenses	(9,540		)	(9,050		)	(21,318		)	(20,540		)
Interest expense	(17,877		)	(16,154		)	(36,268		)	(34,017		)
Other income	462			1,390			917			2,074
Income before disposition of investment properties and activity in unconsolidated affiliates	$	35,480		$	38,799		$	69,204		$	65,997

Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	Basis of Presentation Our Consolidated Financial Statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). The Company's Consolidated Financial Statements include the Operating Partnership, wholly owned subsidiaries and those entities in which the Company has the controlling interest. The Operating Partnership's Consolidated Financial Statements include wholly owned subsidiaries and those entities in which the Operating Partnership has the controlling interest. All intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated. The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements and accompanying unaudited consolidated financial information, in the opinion of management, contain all adjustments (including normal recurring accruals) necessary for a fair presentation of our financial position, results of operations and cash flows. We have condensed or omitted certain notes and other information from the interim Consolidated Financial Statements presented in this Quarterly Report as permitted by SEC rules and regulations. These Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with our 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Use of Estimates	Use of Estimates The preparation of consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in our Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Insurance	Insurance Beginning in 2018, we are primarily self-insured for health care claims for eligible participating employees. We have stop-loss coverage to limit our exposure to significant claims on a per claim and annual aggregate basis. We determine our liabilities for claims, including incurred but not reported losses, based on all relevant information, including actuarial estimates of claim liabilities. At June 30, 2018, a reserve of $0.7 million was recorded to cover estimated reported and unreported claims.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards	Recently Issued Accounting Standards The Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued an accounting standards update ("ASU") that superseded the revenue recognition requirements under previous guidance, which we adopted as of January 1, 2018. Several updates have been issued subsequently which were intended to promote a more consistent interpretation and application of the principles outlined in the ASU. The ASU requires the use of a new five-step model to recognize revenue from contracts with customers. The five-step model requires that we identify the contract with the customer, identify the performance obligations in the contract, determine the transaction price, allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract and recognize revenue when we satisfy the performance obligations. We are also required to disclose information regarding the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. In analyzing our contracts with customers, we determined that the most material potential impact from the adoption of this ASU would be in how revenue is recognized for sales of real estate with continuing involvement. Prior to the adoption of this ASU, profit for such sales transactions was recognized and then reduced by the maximum exposure to loss related to the nature of the continuing involvement at the time of sale. Upon adoption of this ASU, any continuing involvement must be analyzed as a separate performance obligation in the contract and a portion of the sales price allocated to each performance obligation. When the continuing involvement performance obligation is satisfied, the sales price allocated to it will be recognized. We had no sales of real estate with continuing involvement during the first six months of 2018 or prior periods; however, we will use such methodology for any future real estate sales with continuing involvement. Our internal controls with respect to accounting for such sales have been updated accordingly. The adoption of this ASU resulted in no other changes with respect to the timing of revenue recognition or internal controls related to our other contracts with customers which include primarily management, development and construction fees and transient parking income, all of which are not material to our Consolidated Financial Statements. As such, there is no cumulative-effect adjustment from the adoption of this ASU reflected in our Consolidated Financial Statements. The FASB issued an ASU that requires entities to show changes in total cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents in the statement of cash flows. As a result, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents will be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning of period and end of period balances rather than presented as transfers between cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents in the statement of cash flows. We adopted the ASU as of January 1, 2018 with retrospective application to our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. Accordingly, our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows present a reconciliation of the changes in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash. The effect of the adoption resulted in an $8.5 million increase in net cash used in investing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2017. Restricted cash represents cash deposits that are legally restricted or held by third parties on our behalf, such as construction-related escrows, property disposition proceeds set aside and designated or intended to fund future tax-deferred exchanges of qualifying real estate investments, escrows and reserves for debt service, real estate taxes and property insurance established pursuant to certain mortgage financing arrangements and any deposits made with lenders to unencumber secured properties. The FASB issued an ASU that clarifies and narrows the definition of a business used in determining whether to account for a transaction as an asset acquisition or business combination. The guidance requires evaluation of the fair value of the assets acquired to determine if it is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or a group of similar identifiable assets. If so, the transferred assets would not be a business. The guidance also requires a business to include at least one substantive process and narrows the definition of outputs. We adopted the ASU prospectively as of January 1, 2018. We expect that the majority of our future acquisitions would not meet the definition of a business; therefore, the related acquisition costs would be capitalized as part of the purchase price. The FASB issued an ASU that clarifies when changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award must be accounted for as modifications. The guidance requires modification accounting if the value, vesting conditions or classification of the award changes. We adopted the ASU as of January 1, 2018 with no effect on our Consolidated Financial Statements. 1. Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies – Continued The FASB issued an ASU that sets out the principles for the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of leases for both lessees and lessors. We are continuing to refine our analysis of the impact of the guidance on our Consolidated Financial Statements and the related internal controls and have an active project team working on the evaluation and implementation of the guidance. We continue to monitor FASB activity with respect to possible amendments to this ASU, particularly the FASB’s recent vote to finalize an amendment providing an optional practical expedient to lessors that removes the requirement to separate lease and non-lease components when the pattern of recognition of those components are the same and, when combined as a single unit, those would be classified as operating leases. Should the proposed amendment be issued, we expect to elect the practical expedient as our initial analysis of our leases indicates that the pattern of recognition of our material non-lease components (primarily cost recovery income) are the same as the lease components and will not require the use of the five-step revenue recognition model discussed above. We currently believe that the adoption of the ASU will not significantly change the accounting or the related internal controls for rental and other revenues from operating leases where we are the lessor, and that such leases will be accounted for in a manner similar to existing standards with the underlying leased asset being reported and recognized as a real estate asset. In addition, the guidance requires lessors to capitalize and amortize only incremental direct leasing costs. As a result, upon the adoption of the ASU, we will no longer be able to capitalize and amortize certain leasing related costs and instead will expense these costs as incurred. We are in the process of evaluating the impact to our results of operations of expensing such costs and any necessary changes to our related internal controls. The ASU is required to be adopted in 2019 using a modified retrospective approach which requires a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. Leases where we are the lessee include primarily our operating ground leases. We expect to record right of use assets and the related liabilities for certain of these ground leases. We will continue to refine our evaluation and finalize our implementation plan throughout the remainder of 2018. The FASB issued an ASU that eliminates the requirement to separately measure and report hedge ineffectiveness and generally requires the entire change in the fair value of a hedging instrument to be presented in the same income statement line as the hedged item when the hedged item affects earnings. The ASU is required to be adopted in 2019 using a modified retrospective approach. We do not expect such adoption to have a material effect on our Consolidated Financial Statements. The FASB issued an ASU that requires, among other things, the use of a new current expected credit loss ("CECL") model in determining our allowances for doubtful accounts with respect to accounts receivable, accrued straight-line rents receivable and mortgages and notes receivable. The CECL model requires that we estimate our lifetime expected credit loss with respect to these receivables and record allowances that, when deducted from the balance of the receivables, represent the net amounts expected to be collected. We will also be required to disclose information about how we developed the allowances, including changes in the factors (e.g., portfolio mix, credit trends, unemployment, gross domestic product, etc.) that influenced our estimate of expected credit losses and the reasons for those changes. We will apply the ASU’s provisions as a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings upon adoption in 2020. We are in the process of evaluating this ASU.

Intangible Assets and Below Market Lease Liabilities (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Total Intangible Assets and Below Market Lease Liabilities

The following table sets forth total intangible assets and acquisition-related below market lease liabilities, net of accumulated amortization:



	June 30, 2018			December 31, 2017
Assets:
Deferred leasing costs (including lease incentives and above market lease and in-place lease acquisition-related intangible assets)	$	339,623		$	344,191
Less accumulated amortization	(144,555		)	(143,512		)
	$	195,068		$	200,679
Liabilities (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities):
Acquisition-related below market lease liabilities	$	58,847		$	59,947
Less accumulated amortization	(30,133		)	(28,214		)
	$	28,714		$	31,733

Amortization of Intangible Assets and Below Market Lease Liabilities

The following table sets forth amortization of intangible assets and below market lease liabilities:



	Three Months Ended June 30,						Six Months Ended June 30,
	2018			2017			2018			2017
Amortization of deferred leasing costs and acquisition-related intangible assets (in depreciation and amortization)	$	9,207		$	10,133		$	18,702		$	20,752
Amortization of lease incentives (in rental and other revenues)	$	476		$	443		$	905		$	840
Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets (in rental and other revenues)	$	429		$	675		$	877		$	1,711
Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets (in rental property and other expenses)	$	139		$	139		$	276		$	276
Amortization of acquisition-related below market lease liabilities (in rental and other revenues)	$	(1,495	)	$	(1,592	)	$	(3,018	)	$	(3,172	)

Scheduled Future Amortization of Intangible Assets and Below Market Lease Liabilities

The following table sets forth scheduled future amortization of intangible assets and below market lease liabilities:



	Amortization of Deferred Leasing Costs and Acquisition-Related Intangible Assets (in Depreciation and Amortization)		Amortization of Lease Incentives (in Rental and Other Revenues)		Amortization of Acquisition-Related Intangible Assets (in Rental and Other Revenues)		Amortization of Acquisition-Related Intangible Assets (in Rental Property and Other Expenses)		Amortization of Acquisition-Related Below Market Lease Liabilities (in Rental and Other Revenues)
July 1 through December 31, 2018	$	18,504	$	866	$	784	$	277	$	(2,918	)
2019	32,788		1,578		1,273		553		(5,446		)
2020	28,231		1,311		959		518		(5,186		)
2021	23,756		1,086		632		—		(4,377		)
2022	19,520		872		462		—		(3,264		)
Thereafter	54,783		4,907		1,408		—		(7,523		)
	$	177,582	$	10,620	$	5,518	$	1,348	$	(28,714	)
Weighted average remaining amortization periods as of June 30, 2018 (in years)	7.5		10.0		6.5		2.5		6.2

Mortgages and Notes Payable (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Consolidated Mortgages and Notes Payable

The following table sets forth our mortgages and notes payable:



	June 30, 2018			December 31, 2017
Secured indebtedness	$	98,089		$	98,981
Unsecured indebtedness	1,967,062			1,923,513
Less-unamortized debt issuance costs	(10,147		)	(8,161		)
Total mortgages and notes payable, net	$	2,055,004		$	2,014,333

Derivative Financial Instruments (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Derivative Instruments, Fair Value

The following table sets forth the fair value of our derivatives:



	June 30, 2018		December 31, 2017
Derivatives:
Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges in prepaid expenses and other assets:
Interest rate swaps	$	2,871	$	1,286

Schedule of Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) in Statement of Financial Performance

The following table sets forth the effect of our cash flow hedges on accumulated other comprehensive income and interest expense:



	Three Months Ended June 30,						Six Months Ended June 30,
	2018			2017			2018			2017
Derivatives Designated as Cash Flow Hedges:
Amount of unrealized gains/(losses) recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income on derivatives (effective portion):
Interest rate swaps	$	862		$	(136	)	$	8,739		$	316
Amount of (gains)/losses reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income into contractual interest expense (effective portion):
Interest rate swaps	$	(515	)	$	297		$	(621	)	$	781

Noncontrolling Interests (Tables) - Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member]

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]

Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership

The following table sets forth the Company's noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership:



	Six Months Ended June 30,
	2018			2017
Beginning noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	$	144,009		$	144,802
Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership to fair value	(272		)	(287		)
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock	(1,084		)	(305		)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	2,269			1,931
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(2,599		)	(2,495		)
Total noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	$	142,323		$	143,646

Net Income Available for Common Stockholders and Transfers From Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership

The following table sets forth net income available for common stockholders and transfers from the Company's noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership:



	Three Months Ended June 30,				Six Months Ended June 30,
	2018		2017		2018		2017
Net income available for common stockholders	$	50,686	$	37,589	$	83,135	$	69,263
Increase in additional paid in capital from conversions of Common Units to Common Stock	182		203		1,084		305
Change from net income available for common stockholders and transfers from noncontrolling interests	$	50,868	$	37,792	$	84,219	$	69,568

Disclosure About Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Fair Value Measurements of Assets, Liabilities and Noncontrolling Interests

The following table sets forth our assets and liabilities and the Company's noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership that are measured or disclosed at fair value within the fair value hierarchy.



			Level 1		Level 2
	Total		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets or Liabilities		Significant Observable Inputs
Fair Value at June 30, 2018:
Assets:
Mortgages and notes receivable, at fair value (1)	$	5,927	$	—	$	5,927
Interest rate swaps (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	2,871		—		2,871
Marketable securities of non-qualified deferred compensation plan (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	2,371		2,371		—
Total Assets	$	11,169	$	2,371	$	8,798
Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership	$	142,323	$	142,323	$	—
Liabilities:
Mortgages and notes payable, net, at fair value (1)	$	2,024,245	$	—	$	2,024,245
Non-qualified deferred compensation obligation (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	2,371		2,371		—
Total Liabilities	$	2,026,616	$	2,371	$	2,024,245



Fair Value at December 31, 2017:
Assets:
Mortgages and notes receivable, at fair value (1)	$	6,425	$	—	$	6,425
Interest rate swaps (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	1,286		—		1,286
Marketable securities of non-qualified deferred compensation plan (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	2,388		2,388		—
Total Assets	$	10,099	$	2,388	$	7,711
Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership	$	144,009	$	144,009	$	—
Liabilities:
Mortgages and notes payable, net, at fair value (1)	$	2,015,689	$	—	$	2,015,689
Non-qualified deferred compensation obligation (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	2,388		2,388		—
Total Liabilities	$	2,018,077	$	2,388	$	2,015,689

__________

(1) Amounts recorded at historical cost on our Consolidated Balance Sheets at June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017.

- Definition

Tabular disclosure of financial instruments measured at fair value, including those classified in shareholders' equity measured on a recurring or nonrecurring basis. Disclosures include, but are not limited to, fair value measurements recorded and the reasons for the measurements, level within the fair value hierarchy in which the fair value measurements are categorized and transfers between levels 1 and 2. Nonrecurring fair value measurements are those that are required or permitted in the statement of financial position in particular circumstances.

+ References + Details

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract]

Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

The following table sets forth the components of accumulated other comprehensive income:



	Three Months Ended June 30,						Six Months Ended June 30,
	2018			2017			2018			2017
Cash flow hedges:
Beginning balance	$	15,609		$	5,885		$	7,838		$	4,949
Unrealized gains/(losses) on cash flow hedges	862			(136		)	8,739			316
Amortization of cash flow hedges (1)	(515		)	297			(621		)	781
Total accumulated other comprehensive income	$	15,956		$	6,046		$	15,956		$	6,046

__________

(1) Amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income into contractual interest expense.

Real Estate and Other Assets Held For Sale (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Discontinued Operations and Disposal Groups [Abstract]

Real Estate and Other Assets of the Properties Classified As Held For Sale

The following table sets forth the assets held for sale at June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, which are considered non-core:



	June 30, 2018		December 31, 2017
Assets:
Land	$	—	$	870
Buildings and tenant improvements	—		21,318
Land held for development	—		355
Less-accumulated depreciation	—		(9,304		)
Net real estate assets	—		13,239
Accrued straight-line rents receivable	—		591
Deferred leasing costs, net	—		253
Prepaid expenses and other assets	—		35
Real estate and other assets, net, held for sale	$	—	$	14,118

Earnings Per Share and Per Unit (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Earnings Per Share and Per Unit Basic and Diluted [Line Items]

Earnings Per Share

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share of the Company:



	Three Months Ended June 30,						Six Months Ended June 30,
	2018			2017			2018			2017
Earnings per Common Share - basic:
Numerator:
Net income	$	52,998		$	39,554		$	87,244		$	73,039
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(1,381		)	(1,043		)	(2,269		)	(1,931		)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(308		)	(299		)	(594		)	(599		)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(623		)	(623		)	(1,246		)	(1,246		)
Net income available for common stockholders	$	50,686		$	37,589		$	83,135		$	69,263
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Share – weighted average shares	103,428			102,475			103,376			102,109
Net income available for common stockholders	$	0.49		$	0.37		$	0.80		$	0.68
Earnings per Common Share - diluted:
Numerator:
Net income	$	52,998		$	39,554		$	87,244		$	73,039
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(308		)	(299		)	(594		)	(599		)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(623		)	(623		)	(1,246		)	(1,246		)
Net income available for common stockholders before net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	$	52,067		$	38,632		$	85,404		$	71,194
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Share – weighted average shares	103,428			102,475			103,376			102,109
Add:
Stock options using the treasury method	32			77			29			81
Noncontrolling interests Common Units	2,807			2,834			2,811			2,836
Denominator for diluted earnings per Common Share – adjusted weighted average shares and assumed conversions (1)	106,267			105,386			106,216			105,026
Net income available for common stockholders	$	0.49		$	0.37		$	0.80		$	0.68

__________


(1)	Includes all unvested restricted stock where dividends on such restricted stock are non-forfeitable.

Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]

Earnings Per Share and Per Unit Basic and Diluted [Line Items]

Earnings Per Unit

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per unit of the Operating Partnership:



	Three Months Ended June 30,						Six Months Ended June 30,
	2018			2017			2018			2017
Earnings per Common Unit - basic:
Numerator:
Net income	$	52,998		$	39,554		$	87,244		$	73,039
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(308		)	(299		)	(594		)	(599		)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(623		)	(623		)	(1,246		)	(1,246		)
Net income available for common unitholders	$	52,067		$	38,632		$	85,404		$	71,194
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Unit – weighted average units	105,826			104,900			105,778			104,536
Net income available for common unitholders	$	0.49		$	0.37		$	0.81		$	0.68
Earnings per Common Unit - diluted:
Numerator:
Net income	$	52,998		$	39,554		$	87,244		$	73,039
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(308		)	(299		)	(594		)	(599		)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(623		)	(623		)	(1,246		)	(1,246		)
Net income available for common unitholders	$	52,067		$	38,632		$	85,404		$	71,194
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Unit – weighted average units	105,826			104,900			105,778			104,536
Add:
Stock options using the treasury method	32			77			29			81
Denominator for diluted earnings per Common Unit – adjusted weighted average units and assumed conversions (1)	105,858			104,977			105,807			104,617
Net income available for common unitholders	$	0.49		$	0.37		$	0.81		$	0.68

__________


(1)	Includes all unvested restricted stock where distributions on such restricted stock are non-forfeitable.

Segment Information (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Reconciliation of Revenue from Segments to Consolidated

The following tables summarize the rental and other revenues and net operating income, the primary industry property-level performance metric used by our chief operating decision maker and which is defined as rental and other revenues less rental property and other expenses, for each of our reportable segments.



	Three Months Ended June 30,				Six Months Ended June 30,
	2018		2017		2018		2017
Rental and Other Revenues:
Office:
Atlanta	$	34,777	$	35,347	$	70,260	$	69,556
Greensboro	5,378		5,284		11,404		10,586
Memphis	9,899		11,823		20,107		23,618
Nashville	30,669		28,836		61,392		52,526
Orlando	13,451		12,436		26,751		24,874
Pittsburgh	15,323		14,852		30,605		29,701
Raleigh	29,282		30,097		59,086		59,643
Richmond	10,893		11,106		21,942		22,048
Tampa	25,841		24,250		51,266		47,506
Total Office Segment	175,513		174,031		352,813		340,058
Other	3,279		3,252		6,417		6,633
Total Rental and Other Revenues	$	178,792	$	177,283	$	359,230	$	346,691

Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated



Net Operating Income:
Office:
Atlanta	$	21,608		$	22,544		$	44,278		$	44,550
Greensboro	3,434			3,391			7,445			6,749
Memphis	6,173			7,272			12,818			14,544
Nashville	22,427			21,626			44,410			38,250
Orlando	8,093			7,430			16,356			15,008
Pittsburgh	9,249			8,949			18,220			17,574
Raleigh	21,494			21,920			43,366			43,385
Richmond	7,659			7,845			15,240			15,466
Tampa	16,500			15,203			33,260			30,325
Total Office Segment	116,637			116,180			235,393			225,851
Other	2,492			2,249			4,742			4,590
Total Net Operating Income	119,129			118,429			240,135			230,441
Reconciliation to income before disposition of investment properties and activity in unconsolidated affiliates:
Depreciation and amortization	(56,694		)	(55,816		)	(114,262		)	(111,961		)
General and administrative expenses	(9,540		)	(9,050		)	(21,318		)	(20,540		)
Interest expense	(17,877		)	(16,154		)	(36,268		)	(34,017		)
Other income	462			1,390			917			2,074
Income before disposition of investment properties and activity in unconsolidated affiliates	$	35,480		$	38,799		$	69,204		$	65,997

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

Real Estate Assets (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
Real Estate Assets (Details) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($) a	Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($) a parcel	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($) a	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($)
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Undeveloped land suitable for future development (in acres) \| a	400			400
Dispositions [Abstract]
Gains on disposition of property	$ 16,972		$ 0	$ 16,972	$ 5,332
Nashville TN Land Acquisition [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Number of development parcels acquired (in parcels) \| parcel		2
Undeveloped land suitable for future development (in acres) \| a		9
Purchase price of acquisition		$ 50,600
2018 Dispositions [Member]
Dispositions [Abstract]
Purchase price of real estate	34,000
Gains on disposition of property	$ 17,000

Mortgages and Notes Receivable (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Mortgages and notes receivable [Abstract]
Mortgages and notes receivable, net	$ 5,927	$ 6,425

Intangible Assets and Below Market Lease Liabilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Assets:
Deferred leasing costs (including lease incentives and above market lease and in-place lease acquisition-related intangible assets)	$ 339,623		$ 339,623		$ 344,191
Deferred leasing costs, accumulated amortization	(144,555)		(144,555)		(143,512)
Deferred leasing costs, net/Total scheduled future amortization of intangible assets	195,068		195,068		200,679
Liabilities (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities):
Acquisition-related below market lease liabilities, gross	58,847		58,847		59,947
Acquisition-related below market lease liabilities, accumulated amortization	(30,133)		(30,133)		(28,214)
Acquisition-related below market lease liabilities, net	28,714		28,714		$ 31,733
Deferred Leasing Costs and Acquisition-Related Intangible Assets (in Depreciation and Amortization) [Member]
Assets:
Deferred leasing costs, net/Total scheduled future amortization of intangible assets	177,582		177,582
Amortization of intangible assets and below market lease liabilities [Abstract]
Amortization of intangible assets	9,207	$ 10,133	18,702	$ 20,752
Lease Incentives (in Rental and Other Revenues) [Member]
Assets:
Deferred leasing costs, net/Total scheduled future amortization of intangible assets	10,620		10,620
Amortization of intangible assets and below market lease liabilities [Abstract]
Amortization of intangible assets	476	443	905	840
Acquisition-Related Intangible Assets (in Rental and Other Revenues) [Member]
Assets:
Deferred leasing costs, net/Total scheduled future amortization of intangible assets	5,518		5,518
Amortization of intangible assets and below market lease liabilities [Abstract]
Amortization of intangible assets	429	675	877	1,711
Acquisition-Related Intangible Assets (in Rental Property and Other Expenses) [Member]
Assets:
Deferred leasing costs, net/Total scheduled future amortization of intangible assets	1,348		1,348
Amortization of intangible assets and below market lease liabilities [Abstract]
Amortization of intangible assets	139	139	276	276
Acquisition-Related Below Market Lease Liabilities (in Rental and Other Revenues) [Member]
Liabilities (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities):
Acquisition-related below market lease liabilities, net	28,714		28,714
Amortization of intangible assets and below market lease liabilities [Abstract]
Amortization of acquisition-related below market lease liabilities	$ (1,495)	$ (1,592)	$ (3,018)	$ (3,172)

Intangible Assets and Below Market Lease Liabilities - Scheduled Future Amortization (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Scheduled future amortization of intangible assets [Abstract]
Deferred leasing costs, net/Total scheduled future amortization of intangible assets	$ 195,068	$ 200,679
Scheduled future amortization of below market lease liabilities [Abstract]
Total scheduled future amortization of acquisition-related below market lease liabilities	(28,714)	$ (31,733)
Deferred Leasing Costs and Acquisition-Related Intangible Assets (in Depreciation and Amortization) [Member]
Scheduled future amortization of intangible assets [Abstract]
July 1 through December 31, 2018	18,504
2019	32,788
2020	28,231
2021	23,756
2022	19,520
Thereafter	54,783
Deferred leasing costs, net/Total scheduled future amortization of intangible assets	$ 177,582
Weighted average remaining amortization periods for intangible assets and below market lease liabilities [Abstract]
Finite-lived intangible assets, average useful life (in years)	7 years 6 months
Lease Incentives (in Rental and Other Revenues) [Member]
Scheduled future amortization of intangible assets [Abstract]
July 1 through December 31, 2018	$ 866
2019	1,578
2020	1,311
2021	1,086
2022	872
Thereafter	4,907
Deferred leasing costs, net/Total scheduled future amortization of intangible assets	$ 10,620
Weighted average remaining amortization periods for intangible assets and below market lease liabilities [Abstract]
Finite-lived intangible assets, average useful life (in years)	10 years
Acquisition-Related Intangible Assets (in Rental and Other Revenues) [Member]
Scheduled future amortization of intangible assets [Abstract]
July 1 through December 31, 2018	$ 784
2019	1,273
2020	959
2021	632
2022	462
Thereafter	1,408
Deferred leasing costs, net/Total scheduled future amortization of intangible assets	$ 5,518
Weighted average remaining amortization periods for intangible assets and below market lease liabilities [Abstract]
Finite-lived intangible assets, average useful life (in years)	6 years 6 months
Acquisition-Related Intangible Assets (in Rental Property and Other Expenses) [Member]
Scheduled future amortization of intangible assets [Abstract]
July 1 through December 31, 2018	$ 277
2019	553
2020	518
2021	0
2022	0
Thereafter	0
Deferred leasing costs, net/Total scheduled future amortization of intangible assets	$ 1,348
Weighted average remaining amortization periods for intangible assets and below market lease liabilities [Abstract]
Finite-lived intangible assets, average useful life (in years)	2 years 6 months
Acquisition-Related Below Market Lease Liabilities (in Rental and Other Revenues) [Member]
Scheduled future amortization of below market lease liabilities [Abstract]
July 1 through December 31, 2018	$ (2,918)
2019	(5,446)
2020	(5,186)
2021	(4,377)
2022	(3,264)
Thereafter	(7,523)
Total scheduled future amortization of acquisition-related below market lease liabilities	$ (28,714)
Weighted average remaining amortization periods for intangible assets and below market lease liabilities [Abstract]
Finite-lived below market lease liabilities, average useful life (in years)	6 years 2 months 12 days

Mortgages and Notes Payable (Details)	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Mortgages and Notes Payable (Details)	Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($) extensions	Jul. 17, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Mortgages and notes payable		$ 2,055,004,000		$ 2,014,333,000
Unamortized debt issuance costs		(10,147,000)		(8,161,000)
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity on revolving credit facility		$ 600,000,000
Maturity date on revolving credit facility		Jan. 01, 2022
Additional borrowing capacity on revolving credit facility		$ 400,000,000
Number of additional extensions \| extensions		2
Term of optional extension		6 months
Annual facility fee (in hundredths)		0.20%
Amount outstanding on revolving credit facility		$ 142,000,000
Outstanding letters of credit on revolving credit facility		400,000
Unused borrowing capacity on revolving credit facility		457,600,000
7.5% Notes Due 2018 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal debt amount		$ 200,000,000
Interest rate (in hundredths)		7.50%
4.125% (4.271% effective rate) Notes due 2028 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal debt amount	$ 350,000,000
Interest rate (in hundredths)	4.125%
Scheduled maturity date	Mar. 15, 2028
Original issue discount	$ 4,100,000
Effective interest rate (in hundredths)	4.271%
Debt issuance costs incurred	$ 2,900,000
Secured indebtedness [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Mortgages and notes payable		$ 98,089,000		98,981,000
Aggregate undepreciated book value of secured real estate assets		147,400,000
Unsecured indebtedness [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Mortgages and notes payable		$ 1,967,062,000		$ 1,923,513,000
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] \| Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Facility interest rate basis		LIBOR plus 100 basis points
Interest rate, basis spread (in hundredths)		1.00%
Subsequent Event [Member] \| Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount outstanding on revolving credit facility			$ 136,000,000
Unused borrowing capacity on revolving credit facility			$ 463,600,000

Derivative Financial Instruments (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
Derivative Financial Instruments (Details) - USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017	Jun. 30, 2019
Derivative [Line Items]
Interest rate swaps	$ 862,000		$ (136,000)	$ 8,739,000	$ 316,000
Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges in prepaid expenses and other assets:
Interest rate swaps	2,871,000			2,871,000		$ 1,286,000
Amount of unrealized gains/(losses) recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income on derivatives (effective portion):
Interest rate swaps	862,000		(136,000)	8,739,000	316,000
Amount of (gains)/losses reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income into contractual interest expense (effective portion):
Interest rate swaps	(515,000)		$ 297,000	(621,000)	$ 781,000
4.125% (4.271% effective rate) Notes due 2028 [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Principal debt amount		$ 350,000,000
Interest rate (in hundredths)		4.125%
Forward Starting Swaps [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Amount of borrowings, subject to swaps	$ 150,000,000.0			$ 150,000,000.0		$ 150,000,000
Underlying treasury rate term (in periods)	10 years					10 years
Underlying treasury rate locked by forward-starting swaps (in hundredths)	2.91%			2.91%		2.44%
Interest rate swaps		$ 7,000,000
Gain on hedge ineffectiveness in interest expense		200,000
Amount of unrealized gains/(losses) recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income on derivatives (effective portion):
Interest rate swaps		$ 7,000,000
Scenario, Forecast [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Expected increase to interest expense							$ 2,500,000

Noncontrolling Interests (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
Noncontrolling Interests (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Affiliates [Abstract]
Consolidated joint venture, partner's interest (in hundredths)	50.00%		50.00%
Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership [Roll Forward]
Beginning noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership			$ 144,009
Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership to fair value			(272)	$ (287)
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock			(1,084)	(305)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	$ 1,381	$ 1,043	2,269	1,931
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership			(2,599)	(2,495)
Total noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	142,323		142,323
Net Income Available for Common Stockholders and Transfers From Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership [Abstract]
Net income available for common stockholders	50,686	37,589	83,135	69,263
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member]
Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership [Roll Forward]
Beginning noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership			144,009	144,802
Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership to fair value			(272)	(287)
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock			(1,084)	(305)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership			2,269	1,931
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership			(2,599)	(2,495)
Total noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	142,323	143,646	142,323	143,646
Net Income Available for Common Stockholders and Transfers From Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership [Abstract]
Net income available for common stockholders	50,686	37,589	83,135	69,263
Increase in additional paid in capital from conversions of Common Units to Common Stock	182	203	1,084	305
Change from net income available for common stockholders and transfers from noncontrolling interests	$ 50,868	$ 37,792	$ 84,219	$ 69,568

Disclosure About Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Assets:
Mortgages and notes receivable, at fair value	$ 5,927	$ 6,425
Interest rate swaps (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	2,871	1,286
Marketable securities of non-qualified deferred compensation plan (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	2,371	2,388
Total Assets	11,169	10,099
Liabilities:
Mortgages and notes payable, net, at fair value	2,024,245	2,015,689
Non-qualified deferred compensation obligation (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	2,371	2,388
Total Liabilities	2,026,616	2,018,077
Level 1 [Member]
Assets:
Mortgages and notes receivable, at fair value	0	0
Interest rate swaps (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	0	0
Marketable securities of non-qualified deferred compensation plan (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	2,371	2,388
Total Assets	2,371	2,388
Liabilities:
Mortgages and notes payable, net, at fair value	0	0
Non-qualified deferred compensation obligation (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	2,371	2,388
Total Liabilities	2,371	2,388
Level 2 [Member]
Assets:
Mortgages and notes receivable, at fair value	5,927	6,425
Interest rate swaps (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	2,871	1,286
Marketable securities of non-qualified deferred compensation plan (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	0	0
Total Assets	8,798	7,711
Liabilities:
Mortgages and notes payable, net, at fair value	2,024,245	2,015,689
Non-qualified deferred compensation obligation (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	0	0
Total Liabilities	2,024,245	2,015,689
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member]
Assets:
Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership	142,323	144,009
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member] \| Level 1 [Member]
Assets:
Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership	142,323	144,009
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member] \| Level 2 [Member]
Assets:
Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership	$ 0	$ 0

Share-Based Payments (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense	$ 1,172	$ 1,055	$ 5,468	$ 4,837
Total unrecognized stock-based compensation costs	$ 7,000		$ 7,000
Weighted average remaining contractual term for recognition of unrecognized stock-based compensation costs (in years)			2 years 6 months
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member] \| Time-Based Restricted Stock [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Restricted stock shares granted (in shares)			94,984
Weighted average grant date fair value of each restricted stock share granted (in dollars per share)			$ 43.01
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member] \| Total Return-Based Restricted Stock [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Restricted stock shares granted (in shares)			77,456
Weighted average grant date fair value of each restricted stock share granted (in dollars per share)			$ 40.81

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Calculation [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 15,609	$ 5,885	$ 7,838	$ 4,949
Unrealized gains/(losses) on cash flow hedges	862	(136)	8,739	316
Amortization of cash flow hedges	(515)	297	(621)	781
Total accumulated other comprehensive income	$ 15,956	$ 6,046	$ 15,956	$ 6,046

Real Estate and Other Assets Held For Sale (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Real Estate and Other Assets Held For Sale [Abstract]
Land	$ 0	$ 870
Buildings and tenant improvements	0	21,318
Land held for development	0	355
Less-accumulated depreciation	0	(9,304)
Net real estate assets	0	13,239
Accrued straight-line rents receivable	0	591
Deferred leasing costs, net	0	253
Prepaid expenses and other assets	0	35
Real estate and other assets, net, held for sale	$ 0	$ 14,118

Earnings Per Share and Per Unit (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Earnings per Common Share and Per Unit - basic: [Abstract]
Net income	$ 52,998	$ 39,554	$ 87,244	$ 73,039
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership from continuing operations	(1,381)	(1,043)	(2,269)	(1,931)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates from continuing operations	(308)	(299)	(594)	(599)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(623)	(623)	(1,246)	(1,246)
Net income available for common stockholders	$ 50,686	$ 37,589	$ 83,135	$ 69,263
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Share - weighted average shares (in shares)	103,428	102,475	103,376	102,109
Earnings per Common Share - basic:
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.49	$ 0.37	$ 0.80	$ 0.68
Earnings per Common Share and Per Unit - diluted: [Abstract]
Net income	$ 52,998	$ 39,554	$ 87,244	$ 73,039
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(308)	(299)	(594)	(599)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(623)	(623)	(1,246)	(1,246)
Net income available for common stockholders before net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	$ 52,067	$ 38,632	$ 85,404	$ 71,194
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Share - weighted average shares (in shares)	103,428	102,475	103,376	102,109
Stock options using the treasury method (in shares)	32	77	29	81
Noncontrolling interests Common Units (in shares)	2,807	2,834	2,811	2,836
Denominator for diluted earnings per Common Share - adjusted weighted average shares and assumed conversions (in shares)	106,267	105,386	106,216	105,026
Earnings per Common Share - diluted:
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.49	$ 0.37	$ 0.80	$ 0.68
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Earnings per Common Share and Per Unit - basic: [Abstract]
Net income	$ 52,998	$ 39,554	$ 87,244	$ 73,039
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates from continuing operations	(308)	(299)	(594)	(599)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(623)	(623)	(1,246)	(1,246)
Net income available for common unitholders	$ 52,067	$ 38,632	$ 85,404	$ 71,194
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Unit - weighted average units (in shares)	105,826	104,900	105,778	104,536
Earnings per Common Unit - basic:
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.49	$ 0.37	$ 0.81	$ 0.68
Earnings per Common Share and Per Unit - diluted: [Abstract]
Net income	$ 52,998	$ 39,554	$ 87,244	$ 73,039
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(308)	(299)	(594)	(599)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(623)	(623)	(1,246)	(1,246)
Net income available for common unitholders	$ 52,067	$ 38,632	$ 85,404	$ 71,194
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Unit - weighted average units (in shares)	105,826	104,900	105,778	104,536
Stock options using the treasury method (in shares)	32	77	29	81
Denominator for diluted earnings per Common Unit - adjusted weighted average units and assumed conversions (in shares)	105,858	104,977	105,807	104,617
Earnings per Common Unit - diluted:
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.49	$ 0.37	$ 0.81	$ 0.68

Segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
Segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Rental and Other Revenues	$ 178,792	$ 177,283	$ 359,230	$ 346,691
Total Net Operating Income	119,129	118,429	240,135	230,441
Reconciliation to income before disposition of investment properties and activity in unconsolidated affiliates:
Depreciation and amortization	(56,694)	(55,816)	(114,262)	(111,961)
General and administrative expenses	(9,540)	(9,050)	(21,318)	(20,540)
Interest expense	(17,877)	(16,154)	(36,268)	(34,017)
Other income	462	1,390	917	2,074
Income before disposition of investment properties and activity in unconsolidated affiliates	35,480	38,799	69,204	65,997
Total Office Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Rental and Other Revenues	175,513	174,031	352,813	340,058
Total Net Operating Income	116,637	116,180	235,393	225,851
Office Atlanta, GA [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Rental and Other Revenues	34,777	35,347	70,260	69,556
Total Net Operating Income	21,608	22,544	44,278	44,550
Office Greensboro, NC [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Rental and Other Revenues	5,378	5,284	11,404	10,586
Total Net Operating Income	3,434	3,391	7,445	6,749
Office Memphis, TN [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Rental and Other Revenues	9,899	11,823	20,107	23,618
Total Net Operating Income	6,173	7,272	12,818	14,544
Office Nashville, TN [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Rental and Other Revenues	30,669	28,836	61,392	52,526
Total Net Operating Income	22,427	21,626	44,410	38,250
Office Orlando, FL [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Rental and Other Revenues	13,451	12,436	26,751	24,874
Total Net Operating Income	8,093	7,430	16,356	15,008
Office Pittsburgh, PA [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Rental and Other Revenues	15,323	14,852	30,605	29,701
Total Net Operating Income	9,249	8,949	18,220	17,574
Office Raleigh, NC [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Rental and Other Revenues	29,282	30,097	59,086	59,643
Total Net Operating Income	21,494	21,920	43,366	43,385
Office Richmond, VA [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Rental and Other Revenues	10,893	11,106	21,942	22,048
Total Net Operating Income	7,659	7,845	15,240	15,466
Office Tampa, FL [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Rental and Other Revenues	25,841	24,250	51,266	47,506
Total Net Operating Income	16,500	15,203	33,260	30,325
Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Rental and Other Revenues	3,279	3,252	6,417	6,633
Total Net Operating Income	$ 2,492	$ 2,249	$ 4,742	$ 4,590