Document and Entity Information Document - shares	9 Months Ended
Document and Entity Information Document - shares	Sep. 30, 2017	Oct. 18, 2017
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	Sep. 30, 2017
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2017
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		103,248,940
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	Sep. 30, 2017
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2017
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Amendment Flag	false

Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Real estate assets, at cost:
Land	$ 488,013	$ 474,375
Buildings and tenant improvements	4,605,061	4,313,373
Development in-process	58,578	279,602
Land held for development	76,969	77,355
Total real estate assets	5,228,621	5,144,705
Less-accumulated depreciation	(1,196,642)	(1,134,103)
Net real estate assets	4,031,979	4,010,602
Cash and cash equivalents	4,864	49,490
Restricted cash	47,761	29,141
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $504 and $624, respectively	18,027	17,372
Mortgages and notes receivable, net of allowance of $80 and $105, respectively	6,789	8,833
Accrued straight-line rents receivable, net of allowance of $324 and $692, respectively	194,639	172,829
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	23,523	18,846
Deferred leasing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $145,814 and $140,081, respectively	202,814	213,500
Prepaid expenses and other assets, net of accumulated amortization of $22,341 and $19,904, respectively	30,070	40,437
Total Assets	4,560,466	4,561,050
Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Capital:
Mortgages and notes payable, net	1,966,398	1,948,047
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	227,575	313,885
Total Liabilities	2,193,973	2,261,932
Commitments and contingencies
Noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	147,451	144,802
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), 28,892 and 28,920 shares issued and outstanding, respectively	28,892	28,920
Common Stock, $.01 par value, 200,000,000 authorized shares; 103,248,940 and 101,665,554 shares issued and outstanding, respectively	1,032	1,017
Additional paid-in capital	2,924,048	2,850,881
Distributions in excess of net income available for common stockholders	(758,484)	(749,412)
Accumulated other comprehensive income	5,910	4,949
Total Stockholders’ Equity	2,201,398	2,136,355
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	17,644	17,961
Total Equity/Capital	2,219,042	2,154,316
Total Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Total Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Capital	4,560,466	4,561,050
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Real estate assets, at cost:
Land	488,013	474,375
Buildings and tenant improvements	4,605,061	4,313,373
Development in-process	58,578	279,602
Land held for development	76,969	77,355
Total real estate assets	5,228,621	5,144,705
Less-accumulated depreciation	(1,196,642)	(1,134,103)
Net real estate assets	4,031,979	4,010,602
Cash and cash equivalents	4,864	49,490
Restricted cash	47,761	29,141
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $504 and $624, respectively	18,027	17,372
Mortgages and notes receivable, net of allowance of $80 and $105, respectively	6,789	8,833
Accrued straight-line rents receivable, net of allowance of $324 and $692, respectively	194,639	172,829
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	23,523	18,846
Deferred leasing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $145,814 and $140,081, respectively	202,814	213,500
Prepaid expenses and other assets, net of accumulated amortization of $22,341 and $19,904, respectively	30,070	40,437
Total Assets	4,560,466	4,561,050
Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Capital:
Mortgages and notes payable, net	1,966,398	1,948,047
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	227,575	313,885
Total Liabilities	2,193,973	2,261,932
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable Operating Partnership Units:
Common Units, 2,830,704 and 2,838,704 outstanding, respectively	147,451	144,802
Series A Preferred Units (liquidation preference $1,000 per unit), 28,892 and 28,920 units issued and outstanding, respectively	28,892	28,920
Total Redeemable Operating Partnership Units	176,343	173,722
Equity/Capital:
General partner Common Units, 1,056,708 and 1,040,954 outstanding, respectively	21,665	21,023
Limited partner Common Units, 101,783,423 and 100,215,791 outstanding, respectively	2,144,931	2,081,463
Accumulated other comprehensive income	5,910	4,949
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	17,644	17,961
Total Equity/Capital	2,190,150	2,125,396
Total Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity/Total Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Capital	$ 4,560,466	$ 4,561,050

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Assets:
Accounts receivable allowance	$ 504	$ 624
Mortgages and notes receivable allowance	80	105
Accrued straight-line rents receivable allowance	324	692
Deferred leasing costs, accumulated amortization	145,814	140,081
Prepaid expenses and other assets, accumulated amortization	$ 22,341	$ 19,904
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)	28,892	28,920
Series A Preferred Stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	28,892	28,920
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)	103,248,940	101,665,554
Common Stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	103,248,940	101,665,554
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Assets:
Accounts receivable allowance	$ 504	$ 624
Mortgages and notes receivable allowance	80	105
Accrued straight-line rents receivable allowance	324	692
Deferred leasing costs, accumulated amortization	145,814	140,081
Prepaid expenses and other assets, accumulated amortization	$ 22,341	$ 19,904
Redeemable Operating Partnership Units: [Abstract]
Redeemable Common Units outstanding (in shares)	2,830,704	2,838,704
Series A Preferred Units, liquidation preference (in dollars per share)	$ 1,000	$ 1,000
Series A Preferred Units, issued (in shares)	28,892	28,920
Series A Preferred Units, outstanding (in shares)	28,892	28,920
Common Units: [Abstract]
General partners' capital account, units outstanding (in shares)	1,056,708	1,040,954
Limited partners' capital account, units outstanding (in shares)	101,783,423	100,215,791

Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Rental and other revenues	$ 180,185	$ 166,269	$ 526,876	$ 497,988
Operating expenses:
Rental property and other expenses	61,234	58,620	177,484	173,715
Depreciation and amortization	56,973	52,923	168,934	161,734
Impairments of real estate assets	1,445	0	1,445	0
General and administrative	9,247	9,863	29,787	29,327
Total operating expenses	128,899	121,406	377,650	364,776
Interest expense:
Contractual	16,395	17,722	48,763	56,111
Amortization of debt issuance costs	796	844	2,445	2,645
Total interest expense	17,191	18,566	51,208	58,756
Other income:
Interest and other income	558	833	1,806	1,884
Gains on debt extinguishment	0	0	826	0
Total other income	558	833	2,632	1,884
Income from continuing operations before disposition of investment properties and activity in unconsolidated affiliates	34,653	27,130	100,650	76,340
Gains on disposition of property	19,849	3,902	25,181	14,160
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	5,047	2,808	6,757	5,010
Income from continuing operations	59,549	33,840	132,588	95,510
Discontinued operations:
Income from discontinued operations	0	0	0	4,097
Net gains on disposition of discontinued operations	0	0	0	414,496
Total income from discontinued operations	0	0	0	418,593
Net income	59,549	33,840	132,588	514,103
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(1,571)	(926)	(3,502)	(14,876)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(315)	(319)	(914)	(941)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(623)	(624)	(1,869)	(1,877)
Net income available for common stockholders	$ 57,040	$ 31,971	$ 126,303	$ 496,409
Earnings per Common Share – basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.55	$ 0.32	$ 1.23	$ 0.92
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	0.00	0.00	0.00	4.16
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.55	$ 0.32	$ 1.23	$ 5.08
Weighted average Common Shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	103,237	98,973	102,489	97,669
Earnings per Common Share - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.55	$ 0.32	$ 1.23	$ 0.92
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	0.00	0.00	0.00	4.16
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.55	$ 0.32	$ 1.23	$ 5.08
Weighted average Common Shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)	106,145	101,939	105,402	100,645
Dividends declared per Common Share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.440	$ 0.425	$ 1.320	$ 1.275
Net income available for common stockholders:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders	$ 57,040	$ 31,971	$ 126,303	$ 90,081
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders	0	0	0	406,328
Net income available for common stockholders	57,040	31,971	126,303	496,409
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Rental and other revenues	180,185	166,269	526,876	497,988
Operating expenses:
Rental property and other expenses	61,234	58,620	177,484	173,715
Depreciation and amortization	56,973	52,923	168,934	161,734
Impairments of real estate assets	1,445	0	1,445	0
General and administrative	9,247	9,863	29,787	29,327
Total operating expenses	128,899	121,406	377,650	364,776
Interest expense:
Contractual	16,395	17,722	48,763	56,111
Amortization of debt issuance costs	796	844	2,445	2,645
Total interest expense	17,191	18,566	51,208	58,756
Other income:
Interest and other income	558	833	1,806	1,884
Gains on debt extinguishment	0	0	826	0
Total other income	558	833	2,632	1,884
Income from continuing operations before disposition of investment properties and activity in unconsolidated affiliates	34,653	27,130	100,650	76,340
Gains on disposition of property	19,849	3,902	25,181	14,160
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	5,047	2,808	6,757	5,010
Income from continuing operations	59,549	33,840	132,588	95,510
Discontinued operations:
Income from discontinued operations	0	0	0	4,097
Net gains on disposition of discontinued operations	0	0	0	414,496
Total income from discontinued operations	0	0	0	418,593
Net income	59,549	33,840	132,588	514,103
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(315)	(319)	(914)	(941)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(623)	(624)	(1,869)	(1,877)
Net income available for common unitholders	$ 58,611	$ 32,897	$ 129,805	$ 511,285
Earnings per Common Unit - basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.55	$ 0.32	$ 1.24	$ 0.93
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	0.00	0.00	0.00	4.18
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.55	$ 0.32	$ 1.24	$ 5.11
Weighted average Common Units outstanding - basic (in shares)	105,660	101,422	104,914	100,142
Earnings per Common Unit - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.55	$ 0.32	$ 1.24	$ 0.92
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	0.00	0.00	0.00	4.18
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.55	$ 0.32	$ 1.24	$ 5.10
Weighted average Common Units outstanding - diluted (in shares)	105,736	101,530	104,993	100,236
Distributions declared per Common Unit (in dollars per unit)	$ 0.440	$ 0.425	$ 1.320	$ 1.275
Net income available for common unitholders:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders	$ 58,611	$ 32,897	$ 129,805	$ 92,692
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders	0	0	0	418,593
Net income available for common unitholders	$ 58,611	$ 32,897	$ 129,805	$ 511,285

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Comprehensive income:
Net income	$ 59,549	$ 33,840	$ 132,588	$ 514,103
Other comprehensive income/(loss):
Unrealized gains/(losses) on cash flow hedges	(347)	1,610	(31)	(7,785)
Amortization of cash flow hedges	211	758	992	2,336
Total other comprehensive income/(loss)	(136)	2,368	961	(5,449)
Total comprehensive income	59,413	36,208	133,549	508,654
Less-comprehensive (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,886)	(1,245)	(4,416)	(15,817)
Comprehensive income attributable to common stockholders/Comprehensive income attributable to common unitholders	57,527	34,963	129,133	492,837
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Comprehensive income:
Net income	59,549	33,840	132,588	514,103
Other comprehensive income/(loss):
Unrealized gains/(losses) on cash flow hedges	(347)	1,610	(31)	(7,785)
Amortization of cash flow hedges	211	758	992	2,336
Total other comprehensive income/(loss)	(136)	2,368	961	(5,449)
Total comprehensive income	59,413	36,208	133,549	508,654
Less-comprehensive (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(315)	(319)	(914)	(941)
Comprehensive income attributable to common stockholders/Comprehensive income attributable to common unitholders	$ 59,098	$ 35,889	$ 132,635	$ 507,713

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, 2015			96,091,932
Balance at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 1,619,282	$ 1,590,232	$ 961	$ 29,050	$ 15,759	$ 1,560,309	$ 2,598,242	$ (3,811)	$ (3,811)	$ 17,975	$ 17,975	$ (1,023,135)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuances of Common Units, net of issuance costs and tax withholdings		187,214			1,872	185,342
Distributions on Common Units		(127,391)			(1,274)	(126,117)
Distributions on Preferred Units		(1,877)			(19)	(1,858)
Issuances of Common Stock, net of issuance costs and tax withholdings - Shares			3,930,262
Issuances of Common Stock, net of issuance costs and tax withholdings	187,214		$ 39				187,175
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock - Shares			60,048
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock	3,006						3,006
Dividends on Common Stock	(124,228)											(124,228)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(1,877)											(1,877)
Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership to fair value	(13,390)						(13,390)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(966)	(966)								(966)	(966)
Issuances of restricted stock - shares			130,752
Issuances of restricted stock	0
Redemptions/repurchases of Preferred Stock	(130)			(130)
Share-based compensation expense, net of forfeitures - shares			(8,888)
Share-based compensation expense, net of forfeitures	5,412	5,412	$ 2		54	5,358	5,410
Adjustment of Redeemable Common Units to fair value and contributions/distributions from/to the General Partner		(22,097)			(221)	(21,876)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(14,876)											(14,876)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	0	0			(9)	(932)				941	941	(941)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	514,103	514,103			5,141	508,962						514,103
Other comprehensive income/(loss)	(5,449)	(5,449)						(5,449)	(5,449)
Total comprehensive income	508,654	508,654
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2016			100,204,106
Balance at Sep. 30, 2016	$ 2,168,101	2,139,181	$ 1,002	28,920	21,303	2,109,188	2,780,443	(9,260)	(9,260)	17,950	17,950	(650,954)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016	101,665,554		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		70,307			703	69,604
Distributions on Common Units		(138,577)			(1,386)	(137,191)
Distributions on Preferred Units		(1,869)			(19)	(1,850)
Issuances of Common Stock, net of issuance costs and tax withholdings - Shares			1,464,638
Issuances of Common Stock, net of issuance costs and tax withholdings	70,307		$ 15				70,292
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock - Shares			8,000
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock	408						408
Dividends on Common Stock	(135,375)											(135,375)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(1,869)											(1,869)
Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership to fair value	(3,297)						(3,297)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(1,231)	(1,231)								(1,231)	(1,231)
Issuances of restricted stock - shares			110,748
Issuances of restricted stock	0
Redemptions/repurchases of Preferred Stock	(28)			(28)
Share-based compensation expense, net of forfeitures - shares			0
Share-based compensation expense, net of forfeitures	5,764	5,764			58	5,706	5,764
Adjustment of Redeemable Common Units to fair value and contributions/distributions from/to the General Partner		(3,189)			(31)	(3,158)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(3,502)											(3,502)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	0	0			(9)	(905)				914	914	(914)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	132,588	132,588			1,326	131,262						132,588
Other comprehensive income/(loss)	961	961						961	961
Total comprehensive income	$ 133,549	133,549
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2017	103,248,940		103,248,940
Balance at Sep. 30, 2017	$ 2,219,042	$ 2,190,150	$ 1,032	$ 28,892	$ 21,665	$ 2,144,931	$ 2,924,048	$ 5,910	$ 5,910	$ 17,644	$ 17,644	$ (758,484)

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Operating activities:
Net income	$ 132,588	$ 514,103
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	168,934	161,734
Amortization of lease incentives and acquisition-related intangible assets and liabilities	(666)	(1,599)
Share-based compensation expense	5,764	5,412
Allowance for losses on accounts and accrued straight-line rents receivable	435	1,846
Accrued interest on mortgages and notes receivable	(391)	(364)
Amortization of debt issuance costs	2,445	2,645
Amortization of cash flow hedges	992	2,336
Amortization of mortgages and notes payable fair value adjustments	422	(175)
Impairments of real estate assets	1,445	0
Gains on debt extinguishment	(826)	0
Net gains on disposition of property	(25,181)	(428,656)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(6,757)	(5,010)
Distributions of earnings from unconsolidated affiliates	4,815	3,936
Settlement of cash flow hedges	7,322	0
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	916	4,798
Prepaid expenses and other assets	2,735	(2,243)
Accrued straight-line rents receivable	(24,473)	(18,931)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	(308)	(7,447)
Net cash provided by operating activities	270,211	232,385
Investing activities:
Investments in acquired real estate and related intangible assets, net of cash acquired	0	(110,249)
Investments in development in-process	(121,367)	(122,839)
Investments in tenant improvements and deferred leasing costs	(78,691)	(63,715)
Investments in building improvements	(41,862)	(51,714)
Net proceeds from disposition of real estate assets	85,538	680,994
Distributions of capital from unconsolidated affiliates	11,670	2,639
Investments in mortgages and notes receivable	0	(7,934)
Repayments of mortgages and notes receivable	2,435	869
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	(10,063)	(105)
Repayments from unconsolidated affiliates	0	448
Changes in restricted cash and other investing activities	(24,225)	(23,310)
Net cash provided by/(used in) investing activities	(176,565)	305,084
Financing activities:
Dividends on Common Stock	(135,375)	(124,228)
Special dividend on Common Stock	(81,205)	0
Redemptions/repurchases of Preferred Stock	(28)	(130)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(1,869)	(1,877)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(3,742)	(3,684)
Special distribution to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(2,271)	0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(1,231)	(966)
Proceeds from the issuance of Common Stock	75,517	194,518
Costs paid for the issuance of Common Stock	(1,244)	(2,888)
Repurchase of shares related to tax withholdings	(3,966)	(4,416)
Borrowings on revolving credit facility	492,300	257,800
Repayments of revolving credit facility	(420,300)	(528,800)
Borrowings on mortgages and notes payable	456,001	75,000
Repayments of mortgages and notes payable	(507,114)	(395,455)
Payments of debt extinguishment costs	(57)	0
Changes in debt issuance costs and other financing activities	(3,688)	(992)
Net cash used in financing activities	(138,272)	(536,118)
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(44,626)	1,351
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period	49,490	5,036
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period	4,864	6,387
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest, net of amounts capitalized	50,025	58,138
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities:
Unrealized losses on cash flow hedges	(31)	(7,785)
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock	408	3,006
Changes in accrued capital expenditures	(6,327)	25,037
Write-off of fully depreciated real estate assets	41,860	28,783
Write-off of fully amortized leasing costs	28,343	16,075
Write-off of fully amortized debt issuance costs	4,324	916
Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership to fair value	3,297	13,390
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Operating activities:
Net income	132,588	514,103
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	168,934	161,734
Amortization of lease incentives and acquisition-related intangible assets and liabilities	(666)	(1,599)
Share-based compensation expense	5,764	5,412
Allowance for losses on accounts and accrued straight-line rents receivable	435	1,846
Accrued interest on mortgages and notes receivable	(391)	(364)
Amortization of debt issuance costs	2,445	2,645
Amortization of cash flow hedges	992	2,336
Amortization of mortgages and notes payable fair value adjustments	422	(175)
Impairments of real estate assets	1,445	0
Gains on debt extinguishment	(826)	0
Net gains on disposition of property	(25,181)	(428,656)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(6,757)	(5,010)
Distributions of earnings from unconsolidated affiliates	4,815	3,523
Settlement of cash flow hedges	7,322	0
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	916	4,798
Prepaid expenses and other assets	2,735	(2,243)
Accrued straight-line rents receivable	(24,473)	(18,931)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	(308)	(7,447)
Net cash provided by operating activities	270,211	231,972
Investing activities:
Investments in acquired real estate and related intangible assets, net of cash acquired	0	(110,249)
Investments in development in-process	(121,367)	(122,839)
Investments in tenant improvements and deferred leasing costs	(78,691)	(63,715)
Investments in building improvements	(41,862)	(51,714)
Net proceeds from disposition of real estate assets	85,538	680,994
Distributions of capital from unconsolidated affiliates	11,670	3,052
Investments in mortgages and notes receivable	0	(7,934)
Repayments of mortgages and notes receivable	2,435	869
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	(10,063)	(105)
Repayments from unconsolidated affiliates	0	448
Changes in restricted cash and other investing activities	(24,225)	(23,310)
Net cash provided by/(used in) investing activities	(176,565)	305,497
Financing activities:
Distributions on Common Units	(138,577)	(127,391)
Special distribution on Common Units	(83,149)	0
Redemptions/repurchases of Preferred Units	(28)	(130)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(1,869)	(1,877)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(1,231)	(966)
Proceeds from the issuance of Common Units	75,517	194,518
Costs paid for the issuance of Common Units	(1,244)	(2,888)
Repurchase of units related to tax withholdings	(3,966)	(4,416)
Borrowings on revolving credit facility	492,300	257,800
Repayments of revolving credit facility	(420,300)	(528,800)
Borrowings on mortgages and notes payable	456,001	75,000
Repayments of mortgages and notes payable	(507,114)	(395,455)
Payments of debt extinguishment costs	(57)	0
Changes in debt issuance costs and other financing activities	(4,555)	(1,513)
Net cash used in financing activities	(138,272)	(536,118)
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(44,626)	1,351
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period	49,490	5,036
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period	4,864	6,387
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest, net of amounts capitalized	50,025	58,138
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities:
Unrealized losses on cash flow hedges	(31)	(7,785)
Changes in accrued capital expenditures	(6,327)	25,037
Write-off of fully depreciated real estate assets	41,860	28,783
Write-off of fully amortized leasing costs	28,343	16,075
Write-off of fully amortized debt issuance costs	4,324	916
Adjustment of Redeemable Common Units to fair value	$ 2,649	$ 21,576

Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
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 September 30, 2017, we owned or had an interest in 30.9 million rentable square feet of in-service properties, 0.6 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 September 30, 2017, the Company owned all of the Preferred Units and 102.8 million, or 97.3%, of the Common Units in the Operating Partnership. Limited partners owned the remaining 2.8 million Common Units. During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company redeemed 8,000 Common Units for a like number of shares of Common Stock. Common Stock Offerings During the first quarter of 2017, we entered into separate equity distribution agreements in which the Company may offer and sell up to $300.0 million in aggregate gross sales price of shares of Common Stock. During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company issued 1,363,919 shares of Common Stock under its equity distribution agreements at an average gross sales price of $50.85 per share and received net proceeds, after sales commissions, of $68.3 million. 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 2016 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. 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 requires the use of a new five-step model to recognize revenue from customer contracts. 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 will also be required to disclose information regarding the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. Upon adoption of the ASU in 2018, we expect to utilize the modified retrospective approach. We are currently conducting our analysis of the impact of the guidance on our Consolidated Financial Statements, including our internal control processes, and have an active project team working on the evaluation and implementation of the guidance. Our analysis of our non-lease related revenue contracts, which include primarily real estate sales, management, development and construction fee income and transient parking income, indicates that the adoption of this ASU will impact the financial statement disclosure of these contracts with no material impact on the timing of revenue recognition; however, we continue to evaluate the impacts of adoption of this ASU. We expect additional impact of this ASU upon adoption of the ASU related to accounting for leases discussed below for certain lease revenue streams that will be required to be evaluated as non-lease components using the five-step revenue recognition model. The FASB issued an ASU that adds to and clarifies guidance on the classification of certain cash receipts and payments in the statement of cash flows. The ASU is required to be adopted in 2018 with retrospective application required. We do not expect such adoption to have a material effect on our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. 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. The ASU is required to be adopted in 2018 and applied prospectively. Upon adoption of this ASU, 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. The ASU is required to be adopted in 2018 and applied prospectively. We do not expect such adoption to have a material effect on our Consolidated Financial Statements. The FASB issued an ASU which sets out the principles for the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of leases for both lessees and lessors. We are currently conducting our initial analysis of the impact of the guidance on our Consolidated Financial Statements and have an active project team working on the evaluation and implementation of the guidance. We currently believe that the adoption of the ASU will not significantly change the accounting for operating leases on our Consolidated Balance Sheets where we are the lessor, and that such leases will be accounted for in a similar method 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, we expect that 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. The ASU is required to be adopted in 2019 using a modified retrospective approach. Our initial analysis of our leases also indicates that upon adoption of the ASU, certain lease revenue streams that are currently accounted for using the lease accounting standard will be accounted for as non-lease components using the five-step revenue recognition model discussed above. We continue to evaluate other impacts of adoption of this ASU. 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. 1. Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies – Continued 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	9 Months Ended
Real Estate Assets	Sep. 30, 2017
Real Estate [Abstract]
Real Estate Assets	Real Estate Assets Dispositions During the third quarter of 2017, we sold a total of 12 buildings for an aggregate sale price of $78.0 million (before closing credits to buyer of $2.5 million) and recorded aggregate gains on disposition of property of $19.8 million. During the first quarter of 2017, we sold a building for a sale price of $13.0 million (before closing credits to buyer of $1.2 million) and recorded a gain on disposition of property of $5.3 million. Impairments During the third quarter of 2017, we recorded aggregate impairments of real estate assets of $1.4 million, which resulted from a change in market-based inputs and our assumptions about the use of the assets.

- 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

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 40
-Section 40
-Paragraph 4
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84176060&loc=d3e18551-111553

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 40
-Section 40
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84176060&loc=d3e18511-111553

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82891408&loc=d3e4437-111522

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 360
-SubTopic 10
-Section 35
-Paragraph 17
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=29634951&loc=d3e1424-110224

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 205
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 6
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-04(c)(Schedule III))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27047687&loc=d3e5864-122674

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(10)(4))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 970
-SubTopic 360
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-28)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6590653&loc=d3e638233-123024

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 360
-SubTopic 10
-Section 35
-Paragraph 43
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=29634951&loc=d3e1739-110224

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(8))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

+ Details

Mortgages and Notes Receivable	9 Months Ended
Mortgages and Notes Receivable	Sep. 30, 2017
Receivables [Abstract]
Mortgages and Notes Receivable	Mortgages and Notes Receivable Mortgages and notes receivable were $6.8 million and $8.8 million at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, 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 September 30, 2017, our mortgages and notes receivable were not in default and there were no other indicators of impairment.

Intangible Assets and Below Market Lease Liabilities

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

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:



	September 30, 2017			December 31, 2016
Assets:
Deferred leasing costs (including lease incentives and above market lease and in-place lease acquisition-related intangible assets)	$	348,628		$	353,581
Less accumulated amortization	(145,814		)	(140,081		)
	$	202,814		$	213,500
Liabilities (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities):
Acquisition-related below market lease liabilities	$	60,304		$	61,221
Less accumulated amortization	(26,905		)	(23,074		)
	$	33,399		$	38,147

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



	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2017			2016			2017			2016
Amortization of deferred leasing costs and acquisition-related intangible assets (in depreciation and amortization)	$	10,130		$	10,111		$	30,882		$	33,177
Amortization of lease incentives (in rental and other revenues)	$	444		$	273		$	1,284		$	1,374
Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets (in rental and other revenues)	$	671		$	901		$	2,382		$	2,904
Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets (in rental property and other expenses)	$	140		$	140		$	416		$	417
Amortization of acquisition-related below market lease liabilities (in rental and other revenues)	$	(1,576	)	$	(1,734	)	$	(4,748	)	$	(6,294	)

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)
October 1 through December 31, 2017	$	10,019	$	427	$	469	$	134	$	(1,497	)
2018	35,970		1,599		1,680		553		(5,962		)
2019	30,311		1,377		1,286		553		(5,492		)
2020	25,589		1,101		967		525		(5,180		)
2021	21,254		886		647		—		(4,409		)
Thereafter	61,333		4,249		1,885		—		(10,859		)
	$	184,476	$	9,639	$	6,934	$	1,765	$	(33,399	)
Weighted average remaining amortization periods as of September 30, 2017 (in years)	7.6		9.5		6.5		3.2		6.8

Mortgages and Notes Payable

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Mortgages and Notes Payable

The following table sets forth our mortgages and notes payable:



	September 30, 2017			December 31, 2016
Secured indebtedness	$	99,421		$	128,204
Unsecured indebtedness	1,875,239			1,826,145
Less-unamortized debt issuance costs	(8,262		)	(6,302		)
Total mortgages and notes payable, net	$	1,966,398		$	1,948,047

At September 30, 2017, our secured mortgage loans were collateralized by real estate assets with an aggregate undepreciated book value of $147.7 million.

At September 30, 2017, we had a $475.0 million unsecured revolving credit facility that was scheduled to mature in January 2018. The interest rate was LIBOR plus 110 basis points and the annual facility fee was 20 basis points. There was $72.0 million outstanding under our revolving credit facility at September 30, 2017 and $0.6 million of outstanding letters of credit, which reduced the availability on the credit facility. As a result, the unused capacity of our revolving credit facility at September 30, 2017 was $402.4 million.

During the second quarter of 2017, we prepaid without penalty a secured mortgage loan with a fair market value of $108.2 million with an effective interest rate of 4.22% that was originally scheduled to mature in November 2017. We recorded $0.4 million of gain on debt extinguishment related to this prepayment.

During 2015, we acquired our joint venture partner’s 77.2% interest in a building in Orlando. Simultaneously with this acquisition, the joint venture's previously existing mortgage note was restructured into a new $18.0 million first mortgage note and a $10.2 million subordinated note, both of which were scheduled to mature in July 2017. The first mortgage and subordinated notes had effective interest rates of 5.36% and 8.6%, respectively. The subordinated note and accrued interest thereon can be satisfied, in certain circumstances, upon payment of a "waterfall payment" equal to a cash payment of 50.0% of the amount by which the net sale proceeds or appraised value at the time of refinancing exceeded (1) the outstanding principal of the first mortgage note, (2) funds deposited by us into escrow to fund tenant improvements, leasing commissions and building improvements and (3) a 10.0% return on such funds deposited by us into escrow. As of the date of such restructuring, the subordinated note was recorded at a projected waterfall payment of $1.0 million. During the second quarter of 2017, both notes were retired upon payment of the $18.0 million principal balance on the first mortgage note and a $0.5 million waterfall payment relating to the subordinated note, which resulted in $0.4 million of gain on debt extinguishment.

During the second quarter of 2017, we obtained a $100.0 million secured mortgage loan from a third party lender with an effective interest rate of 4.0%. This loan is scheduled to mature in May 2029. We incurred $0.8 million of debt issuance costs in connection with this loan, which will be amortized over the term of the loan.

During the first quarter of 2017, the Operating Partnership issued $300.0 million aggregate principal amount of 3.875% notes due 2027, less original issue discount of $4.0 million. These notes were priced to yield 4.038%. Underwriting fees and other expenses were incurred that aggregated $2.5 million; these costs were deferred and will be amortized over the term of the notes.

During the first quarter of 2017, we paid off at maturity $379.7 million principal amount of 5.85% unsecured notes.

During the first quarter of 2017, we amended our $150.0 million unsecured bank term loan that is scheduled to mature in January 2022 by increasing the borrowed amount to $200.0 million. The interest rate on this term loan at our current credit ratings is LIBOR plus 110 basis points. The underlying LIBOR rate with respect to $50.0 million of the unsecured bank term loan has been effectively fixed for the term through floating-to-fixed interest rate swaps as discussed in Note 6. We incurred $0.3 million of debt issuance costs in connection with this amendment, which will be amortized along with existing unamortized debt issuance costs over the remaining term.

5. Mortgages and Notes Payable - Continued

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

We have considered our short-term liquidity needs within one year from October 24, 2017 (the date of issuance of the quarterly financial statements) and the adequacy of our estimated cash flows from operating activities and other expected financing sources to meet these needs. In particular, we have considered our scheduled debt maturities during such one-year period, including the $200.0 million principal amount of unsecured notes due April 15, 2018. We have concluded it is probable we will 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

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

Derivative Financial Instruments

During the second quarter of 2017, we entered into $150.0 million notional amount of forward-starting swaps that effectively lock the underlying 10-year treasury rate at 2.44% with respect to a planned issuance of debt securities by the Operating Partnership expected to occur prior to May 15, 2018.

During the second quarter of 2017, we entered into floating-to-fixed interest rate swaps through January 2022 with respect to an aggregate of $50.0 million LIBOR-based borrowings. These swaps effectively fix the underlying one-month LIBOR rate at a weighted average rate of 1.693%.

During 2016, we entered into $150.0 million notional amount of forward-starting swaps that effectively locked the underlying 10-year treasury rate at 1.90% with respect to a planned issuance of debt securities by the Operating Partnership. Upon issuance of the $300.0 million aggregate principal amount of 3.875% notes due 2027 during the first quarter of 2017, we terminated the forward-starting swaps resulting in an unrealized gain of $7.3 million in accumulated other comprehensive income.

The counterparties under these 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 changes in fair value recorded in other comprehensive income/(loss) each reporting period. No gain or loss was recognized related to hedge ineffectiveness or to amounts excluded from effectiveness testing on our cash flow hedges during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016. We have no collateral requirements related to our interest rate swaps.

Amounts reported in accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) related to derivatives will be reclassified to interest expense as interest payments are made on our variable-rate debt. During the period from October 1, 2017 through September 30, 2018, we estimate that less than $0.1 million will be reclassified as a net increase to interest expense.


6.	Derivative Financial Instruments - Continued

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



	September 30, 2017		December 31, 2016
Derivatives:
Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges in prepaid expenses and other assets:
Interest rate swaps	$	306	$	7,619
Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities:
Interest rate swaps	$	1,059	$	1,870

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



	Three Months Ended September 30,					Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2017			2016		2017			2016
Derivatives Designated as Cash Flow Hedges:
Amount of unrealized gains/(losses) recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) on derivatives (effective portion):
Interest rate swaps	$	(347	)	$	1,610	$	(31	)	$	(7,785	)
Amount of net losses reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) into contractual interest expense (effective portion):
Interest rate swaps	$	211		$	758	$	992		$	2,336

Noncontrolling Interests

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract]

Noncontrolling Interests

Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Affiliates

At September 30, 2017, 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:



	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2017			2016
Beginning noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	$	144,802		$	126,429
Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership to fair value	3,297			13,390
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock	(408		)	(3,006		)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	3,502			14,876
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(3,742		)	(3,684		)
Total noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	$	147,451		$	148,005


7.	Noncontrolling Interests - Continued

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 September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2017		2016		2017		2016
Net income available for common stockholders	$	57,040	$	31,971	$	126,303	$	496,409
Increase in additional paid in capital from conversions of Common Units to Common Stock	103		1,448		408		3,006
Change from net income available for common stockholders and transfers from noncontrolling interests	$	57,143	$	33,419	$	126,711	$	499,415

Disclosure About Fair Value of Financial Instruments

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Disclosure About Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The following summarizes the three 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 certain interest rate swaps. Our Level 2 liabilities include the fair value of our mortgages and notes payable and remaining interest rate swaps.

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.

Level 3. Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.

Our Level 3 assets included (1) any real estate assets recorded at fair value on a non-recurring basis as a result of our quarterly impairment analysis, which were valued using the terms of definitive sales contracts or the sales comparison approach, and (2) our tax increment financing bond, which was not routinely traded but whose fair value was determined by the income approach utilizing contractual cash flows and market-based interest rates to estimate the projected redemption value based on quoted bid/ask prices for similar unrated municipal bonds. Our tax increment financing bond was assigned in conjunction with a sale during the first quarter of 2016. The estimated fair value at the date of sale of $11.2 million was equal to the outstanding principal amount due on the bond.


8.	Disclosure About Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Continued

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		Level 3
	Total		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets or Liabilities		Significant Observable Inputs		Significant Unobservable Inputs
Fair Value at September 30, 2017:
Assets:
Mortgages and notes receivable, at fair value (1)	$	6,789	$	—	$	6,789	$	—
Interest rate swaps (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	306		—		306		—
Marketable securities of non-qualified deferred compensation plan (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	2,269		2,269		—		—
Impaired real estate assets	5,888		—		—		5,888
Total Assets	$	15,252	$	2,269	$	7,095	$	5,888
Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership	$	147,451	$	147,451	$	—	$	—
Liabilities:
Mortgages and notes payable, net, at fair value (1)	$	1,983,723	$	—	$	1,983,723	$	—
Interest rate swaps (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	1,059		—		1,059		—
Non-qualified deferred compensation obligation (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	2,269		2,269		—		—
Total Liabilities	$	1,987,051	$	2,269	$	1,984,782	$	—



Fair Value at December 31, 2016:
Assets:
Mortgages and notes receivable, at fair value (1)	$	8,833	$	—	$	8,833	$	—
Interest rate swaps (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	7,619		—		7,619		—
Marketable securities of non-qualified deferred compensation plan (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	2,451		2,451		—		—
Total Assets	$	18,903	$	2,451	$	16,452	$	—
Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership	$	144,802	$	144,802	$	—	$	—
Liabilities:
Mortgages and notes payable, net, at fair value (1)	$	1,965,611	$	—	$	1,965,611	$	—
Interest rate swaps (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	1,870		—		1,870		—
Non-qualified deferred compensation obligation (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	2,451		2,451		—		—
Total Liabilities	$	1,969,932	$	2,451	$	1,967,481	$	—

__________

(1) Amounts recorded at historical cost on our Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016.


8.	Disclosure About Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Continued

The impaired real estate assets that were measured in the third quarter of 2017 at fair value and deemed to be Level 3 assets were valued based primarily on market-based inputs and our assumptions about the use of the assets, as observable inputs were not available. In the absence of observable inputs, we estimate the fair value of real estate using unobservable local and national industry market data such as comparable sales, sales contracts and appraisals to assist us in our estimation of fair value. Significant increases or decreases in any valuation inputs in isolation would result in a significantly lower or higher fair value measurement.

- 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	9 Months Ended
Share-Based Payments	Sep. 30, 2017
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]
Share-Based Payments	Share-Based Payments During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company granted 168,748 stock options with an exercise price equal to the last reported stock price of our Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on the last trading day prior to the date of grant. The fair value of each option is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, which resulted in a weighted average grant date fair value per share of $6.72. During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company also granted 61,404 shares of time-based restricted stock and 49,344 shares of total return-based restricted stock with weighted average grant date fair values per share of $52.49 and $49.59, respectively. We recorded share-based compensation expense of $0.9 million during each of the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 and $5.8 million and $5.4 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. At September 30, 2017, there was $6.1 million of total unrecognized share-based compensation costs, which will be recognized over a weighted average remaining contractual term of 2.3 years.

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

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

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss)

The following table sets forth the components of accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss):



	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2017			2016			2017			2016
Cash flow hedges:
Beginning balance	$	6,046		$	(11,628	)	$	4,949		$	(3,811	)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on cash flow hedges	(347		)	1,610			(31		)	(7,785		)
Amortization of cash flow hedges (1)	211			758			992			2,336
Total accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss)	$	5,910		$	(9,260	)	$	5,910		$	(9,260	)

__________

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

Discontinued Operations

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

Discontinued Operations and Disposal Groups [Abstract]

Discontinued Operations

The following tables set forth the results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 and cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 related to discontinued operations:



	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2017		2016		2017		2016
Rental and other revenues	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	8,484
Operating expenses:
Rental property and other expenses	—		—		—		3,334
General and administrative	—		—		—		1,388
Total operating expenses	—		—		—		4,722
Interest expense	—		—		—		85
Other income	—		—		—		420
Income from discontinued operations	—		—		—		4,097
Net gains on disposition of discontinued operations	—		—		—		414,496
Total income from discontinued operations	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	418,593



	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2017		2016
Cash flows from operating activities	$	—	$	2,040
Cash flows from investing activities	$	—	$	417,097

Earnings Per Share and Per Unit

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

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 September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2017			2016			2017			2016
Earnings per Common Share - basic:
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations	$	59,549		$	33,840		$	132,588		$	95,510
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership from continuing operations	(1,571		)	(926		)	(3,502		)	(2,611		)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates from continuing operations	(315		)	(319		)	(914		)	(941		)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(623		)	(624		)	(1,869		)	(1,877		)
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders	57,040			31,971			126,303			90,081
Income from discontinued operations	—			—			—			418,593
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership from discontinued operations	—			—			—			(12,265		)
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders	—			—			—			406,328
Net income available for common stockholders	$	57,040		$	31,971		$	126,303		$	496,409
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Share – weighted average shares	103,237			98,973			102,489			97,669
Earnings per Common Share - basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders	$	0.55		$	0.32		$	1.23		$	0.92
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders	—			—			—			4.16
Net income available for common stockholders	$	0.55		$	0.32		$	1.23		$	5.08
Earnings per Common Share - diluted:
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations	$	59,549		$	33,840		$	132,588		$	95,510
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates from continuing operations	(315		)	(319		)	(914		)	(941		)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(623		)	(624		)	(1,869		)	(1,877		)
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders before net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	58,611			32,897			129,805			92,692
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders	—			—			—			418,593
Net income available for common stockholders before net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	$	58,611		$	32,897		$	129,805		$	511,285
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Share – weighted average shares	103,237			98,973			102,489			97,669
Add:
Stock options using the treasury method	76			108			79			94
Noncontrolling interests Common Units	2,832			2,858			2,834			2,882
Denominator for diluted earnings per Common Share – adjusted weighted average shares and assumed conversions (1)	106,145			101,939			105,402			100,645
Earnings per Common Share - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders	$	0.55		$	0.32		$	1.23		$	0.92
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders	—			—			—			4.16
Net income available for common stockholders	$	0.55		$	0.32		$	1.23		$	5.08

__________


(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 September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2017			2016			2017			2016
Earnings per Common Unit - basic:
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations	$	59,549		$	33,840		$	132,588		$	95,510
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates from continuing operations	(315		)	(319		)	(914		)	(941		)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(623		)	(624		)	(1,869		)	(1,877		)
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders	58,611			32,897			129,805			92,692
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders	—			—			—			418,593
Net income available for common unitholders	$	58,611		$	32,897		$	129,805		$	511,285
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Unit – weighted average units	105,660			101,422			104,914			100,142
Earnings per Common Unit - basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders	$	0.55		$	0.32		$	1.24		$	0.93
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders	—			—			—			4.18
Net income available for common unitholders	$	0.55		$	0.32		$	1.24		$	5.11
Earnings per Common Unit - diluted:
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations	$	59,549		$	33,840		$	132,588		$	95,510
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates from continuing operations	(315		)	(319		)	(914		)	(941		)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(623		)	(624		)	(1,869		)	(1,877		)
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders	58,611			32,897			129,805			92,692
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders	—			—			—			418,593
Net income available for common unitholders	$	58,611		$	32,897		$	129,805		$	511,285
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Unit – weighted average units	105,660			101,422			104,914			100,142
Add:
Stock options using the treasury method	76			108			79			94
Denominator for diluted earnings per Common Unit – adjusted weighted average units and assumed conversions (1)	105,736			101,530			104,993			100,236
Earnings per Common Unit - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders	$	0.55		$	0.32		$	1.24		$	0.92
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders	—			—			—			4.18
Net income available for common unitholders	$	0.55		$	0.32		$	1.24		$	5.10

__________


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

Segment Information

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

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 September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2017		2016		2017		2016
Rental and Other Revenues:
Office:
Atlanta	$	36,471	$	33,340	$	106,027	$	101,188
Greensboro	5,370		5,167		15,956		15,351
Memphis	11,459		12,330		35,077		36,275
Nashville	28,945		23,979		81,471		71,760
Orlando	13,309		11,678		38,183		34,360
Pittsburgh	14,719		14,386		44,420		43,721
Raleigh	30,524		27,767		90,167		84,013
Richmond	11,152		11,414		33,200		33,420
Tampa	25,072		22,836		72,578		67,088
Total Office Segment	177,021		162,897		517,079		487,176
Other	3,164		3,372		9,797		10,812
Total Rental and Other Revenues	$	180,185	$	166,269	$	526,876	$	497,988


13.	Segment Information - Continued



	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2017			2016			2017			2016
Net Operating Income:
Office:
Atlanta	$	23,600		$	20,718		$	68,150		$	63,681
Greensboro	3,367			3,187			10,116			9,544
Memphis	6,930			7,753			21,474			22,566
Nashville	21,000			17,042			59,250			51,470
Orlando	7,999			6,633			23,007			19,638
Pittsburgh	8,822			8,482			26,396			25,193
Raleigh	21,960			19,525			65,345			59,935
Richmond	6,987			7,602			22,453			22,718
Tampa	15,972			14,349			46,297			42,037
Total Office Segment	116,637			105,291			342,488			316,782
Other	2,314			2,358			6,904			7,491
Total Net Operating Income	118,951			107,649			349,392			324,273
Reconciliation to income from continuing operations before disposition of investment properties and activity in unconsolidated affiliates:
Depreciation and amortization	(56,973		)	(52,923		)	(168,934		)	(161,734		)
Impairments of real estate assets	(1,445		)	—			(1,445		)	—
General and administrative expenses	(9,247		)	(9,863		)	(29,787		)	(29,327		)
Interest expense	(17,191		)	(18,566		)	(51,208		)	(58,756		)
Other income	558			833			2,632			1,884
Income from continuing operations before disposition of investment properties and activity in unconsolidated affiliates	$	34,653		$	27,130		$	100,650		$	76,340

Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
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 2016 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.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards	Recently Issued Accounting Standards The Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued an accounting standards update ("ASU") that requires the use of a new five-step model to recognize revenue from customer contracts. 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 will also be required to disclose information regarding the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. Upon adoption of the ASU in 2018, we expect to utilize the modified retrospective approach. We are currently conducting our analysis of the impact of the guidance on our Consolidated Financial Statements, including our internal control processes, and have an active project team working on the evaluation and implementation of the guidance. Our analysis of our non-lease related revenue contracts, which include primarily real estate sales, management, development and construction fee income and transient parking income, indicates that the adoption of this ASU will impact the financial statement disclosure of these contracts with no material impact on the timing of revenue recognition; however, we continue to evaluate the impacts of adoption of this ASU. We expect additional impact of this ASU upon adoption of the ASU related to accounting for leases discussed below for certain lease revenue streams that will be required to be evaluated as non-lease components using the five-step revenue recognition model. The FASB issued an ASU that adds to and clarifies guidance on the classification of certain cash receipts and payments in the statement of cash flows. The ASU is required to be adopted in 2018 with retrospective application required. We do not expect such adoption to have a material effect on our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. 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. The ASU is required to be adopted in 2018 and applied prospectively. Upon adoption of this ASU, 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. The ASU is required to be adopted in 2018 and applied prospectively. We do not expect such adoption to have a material effect on our Consolidated Financial Statements. The FASB issued an ASU which sets out the principles for the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of leases for both lessees and lessors. We are currently conducting our initial analysis of the impact of the guidance on our Consolidated Financial Statements and have an active project team working on the evaluation and implementation of the guidance. We currently believe that the adoption of the ASU will not significantly change the accounting for operating leases on our Consolidated Balance Sheets where we are the lessor, and that such leases will be accounted for in a similar method 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, we expect that 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. The ASU is required to be adopted in 2019 using a modified retrospective approach. Our initial analysis of our leases also indicates that upon adoption of the ASU, certain lease revenue streams that are currently accounted for using the lease accounting standard will be accounted for as non-lease components using the five-step revenue recognition model discussed above. We continue to evaluate other impacts of adoption of this ASU. 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. 1. Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies – Continued 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)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Total Intangible Assets and Below Market Lease Liabilities [Table Text Block]

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



	September 30, 2017			December 31, 2016
Assets:
Deferred leasing costs (including lease incentives and above market lease and in-place lease acquisition-related intangible assets)	$	348,628		$	353,581
Less accumulated amortization	(145,814		)	(140,081		)
	$	202,814		$	213,500
Liabilities (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities):
Acquisition-related below market lease liabilities	$	60,304		$	61,221
Less accumulated amortization	(26,905		)	(23,074		)
	$	33,399		$	38,147

Amortization of Intangible Assets and Below Market Lease Liabilities [Table Text Block]

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



	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2017			2016			2017			2016
Amortization of deferred leasing costs and acquisition-related intangible assets (in depreciation and amortization)	$	10,130		$	10,111		$	30,882		$	33,177
Amortization of lease incentives (in rental and other revenues)	$	444		$	273		$	1,284		$	1,374
Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets (in rental and other revenues)	$	671		$	901		$	2,382		$	2,904
Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets (in rental property and other expenses)	$	140		$	140		$	416		$	417
Amortization of acquisition-related below market lease liabilities (in rental and other revenues)	$	(1,576	)	$	(1,734	)	$	(4,748	)	$	(6,294	)

Scheduled Future Amortization of Intangible Assets and Below Market Lease Liabilities [Table Text Block]

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)
October 1 through December 31, 2017	$	10,019	$	427	$	469	$	134	$	(1,497	)
2018	35,970		1,599		1,680		553		(5,962		)
2019	30,311		1,377		1,286		553		(5,492		)
2020	25,589		1,101		967		525		(5,180		)
2021	21,254		886		647		—		(4,409		)
Thereafter	61,333		4,249		1,885		—		(10,859		)
	$	184,476	$	9,639	$	6,934	$	1,765	$	(33,399	)
Weighted average remaining amortization periods as of September 30, 2017 (in years)	7.6		9.5		6.5		3.2		6.8

Mortgages and Notes Payable (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Consolidated Mortgages and Notes Payable [Table Text Block]

The following table sets forth our mortgages and notes payable:



	September 30, 2017			December 31, 2016
Secured indebtedness	$	99,421		$	128,204
Unsecured indebtedness	1,875,239			1,826,145
Less-unamortized debt issuance costs	(8,262		)	(6,302		)
Total mortgages and notes payable, net	$	1,966,398		$	1,948,047

Derivative Financial Instruments (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Derivative Instruments, Fair Value [Table Text Block]

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



	September 30, 2017		December 31, 2016
Derivatives:
Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges in prepaid expenses and other assets:
Interest rate swaps	$	306	$	7,619
Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities:
Interest rate swaps	$	1,059	$	1,870

Schedule of Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) in Statement of Financial Performance [Table Text Block]

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



	Three Months Ended September 30,					Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2017			2016		2017			2016
Derivatives Designated as Cash Flow Hedges:
Amount of unrealized gains/(losses) recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) on derivatives (effective portion):
Interest rate swaps	$	(347	)	$	1,610	$	(31	)	$	(7,785	)
Amount of net losses reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) into contractual interest expense (effective portion):
Interest rate swaps	$	211		$	758	$	992		$	2,336

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

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]

Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership [Table Text Block]

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



	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2017			2016
Beginning noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	$	144,802		$	126,429
Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership to fair value	3,297			13,390
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock	(408		)	(3,006		)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	3,502			14,876
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(3,742		)	(3,684		)
Total noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	$	147,451		$	148,005

Net Income Available for Common Stockholders and Transfers From Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership [Table Text Block]

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 September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2017		2016		2017		2016
Net income available for common stockholders	$	57,040	$	31,971	$	126,303	$	496,409
Increase in additional paid in capital from conversions of Common Units to Common Stock	103		1,448		408		3,006
Change from net income available for common stockholders and transfers from noncontrolling interests	$	57,143	$	33,419	$	126,711	$	499,415

Disclosure About Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Fair Value Measurements of Assets, Liabilities and Noncontrolling Interests [Table Text Block]

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		Level 3
	Total		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets or Liabilities		Significant Observable Inputs		Significant Unobservable Inputs
Fair Value at September 30, 2017:
Assets:
Mortgages and notes receivable, at fair value (1)	$	6,789	$	—	$	6,789	$	—
Interest rate swaps (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	306		—		306		—
Marketable securities of non-qualified deferred compensation plan (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	2,269		2,269		—		—
Impaired real estate assets	5,888		—		—		5,888
Total Assets	$	15,252	$	2,269	$	7,095	$	5,888
Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership	$	147,451	$	147,451	$	—	$	—
Liabilities:
Mortgages and notes payable, net, at fair value (1)	$	1,983,723	$	—	$	1,983,723	$	—
Interest rate swaps (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	1,059		—		1,059		—
Non-qualified deferred compensation obligation (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	2,269		2,269		—		—
Total Liabilities	$	1,987,051	$	2,269	$	1,984,782	$	—



Fair Value at December 31, 2016:
Assets:
Mortgages and notes receivable, at fair value (1)	$	8,833	$	—	$	8,833	$	—
Interest rate swaps (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	7,619		—		7,619		—
Marketable securities of non-qualified deferred compensation plan (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	2,451		2,451		—		—
Total Assets	$	18,903	$	2,451	$	16,452	$	—
Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership	$	144,802	$	144,802	$	—	$	—
Liabilities:
Mortgages and notes payable, net, at fair value (1)	$	1,965,611	$	—	$	1,965,611	$	—
Interest rate swaps (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	1,870		—		1,870		—
Non-qualified deferred compensation obligation (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	2,451		2,451		—		—
Total Liabilities	$	1,969,932	$	2,451	$	1,967,481	$	—

__________

(1) Amounts recorded at historical cost on our Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016.

- 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 (Loss) (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

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

Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss) [Table Text Block]

The following table sets forth the components of accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss):



	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2017			2016			2017			2016
Cash flow hedges:
Beginning balance	$	6,046		$	(11,628	)	$	4,949		$	(3,811	)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on cash flow hedges	(347		)	1,610			(31		)	(7,785		)
Amortization of cash flow hedges (1)	211			758			992			2,336
Total accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss)	$	5,910		$	(9,260	)	$	5,910		$	(9,260	)

__________

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

Discontinued Operations (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

Discontinued Operations and Disposal Groups [Abstract]

Operations Classified as Discontinued Operations [Table Text Block]

The following tables set forth the results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 and cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 related to discontinued operations:



	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2017		2016		2017		2016
Rental and other revenues	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	8,484
Operating expenses:
Rental property and other expenses	—		—		—		3,334
General and administrative	—		—		—		1,388
Total operating expenses	—		—		—		4,722
Interest expense	—		—		—		85
Other income	—		—		—		420
Income from discontinued operations	—		—		—		4,097
Net gains on disposition of discontinued operations	—		—		—		414,496
Total income from discontinued operations	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	418,593



	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2017		2016
Cash flows from operating activities	$	—	$	2,040
Cash flows from investing activities	$	—	$	417,097

- Definition

Tabular disclosure of information related to a disposal group. Includes, but is not limited to, a discontinued operation, disposal classified as held-for-sale or disposed of by means other than sale or disposal of an individually significant component.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 205
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 11
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65878427&loc=SL51721533-107759

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 205
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4B
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64827811&loc=SL51721665-107760

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 205
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64827811&loc=d3e1474-107760

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 205
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64827811&loc=d3e1361-107760

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 205
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 7
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64827811&loc=SL51721683-107760

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 360
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3A
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84176398&loc=SL51724579-110230

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 205
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5C
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64827811&loc=SL51721675-107760

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 205
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4A
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64827811&loc=SL51721663-107760

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 360
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84176398&loc=d3e2941-110230

Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 205
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5B
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64827811&loc=SL51721673-107760

Reference 11: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 205
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3A
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64827811&loc=SL51721659-107760

Reference 12: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 205
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5A
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64827811&loc=SL51721671-107760

Reference 13: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 205
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5D
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64827811&loc=SL51721677-107760

+ Details

Earnings Per Share and Per Unit (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

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

Earnings Per Share [Table Text Block]

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



	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2017			2016			2017			2016
Earnings per Common Share - basic:
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations	$	59,549		$	33,840		$	132,588		$	95,510
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership from continuing operations	(1,571		)	(926		)	(3,502		)	(2,611		)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates from continuing operations	(315		)	(319		)	(914		)	(941		)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(623		)	(624		)	(1,869		)	(1,877		)
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders	57,040			31,971			126,303			90,081
Income from discontinued operations	—			—			—			418,593
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership from discontinued operations	—			—			—			(12,265		)
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders	—			—			—			406,328
Net income available for common stockholders	$	57,040		$	31,971		$	126,303		$	496,409
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Share – weighted average shares	103,237			98,973			102,489			97,669
Earnings per Common Share - basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders	$	0.55		$	0.32		$	1.23		$	0.92
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders	—			—			—			4.16
Net income available for common stockholders	$	0.55		$	0.32		$	1.23		$	5.08
Earnings per Common Share - diluted:
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations	$	59,549		$	33,840		$	132,588		$	95,510
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates from continuing operations	(315		)	(319		)	(914		)	(941		)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(623		)	(624		)	(1,869		)	(1,877		)
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders before net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	58,611			32,897			129,805			92,692
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders	—			—			—			418,593
Net income available for common stockholders before net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	$	58,611		$	32,897		$	129,805		$	511,285
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Share – weighted average shares	103,237			98,973			102,489			97,669
Add:
Stock options using the treasury method	76			108			79			94
Noncontrolling interests Common Units	2,832			2,858			2,834			2,882
Denominator for diluted earnings per Common Share – adjusted weighted average shares and assumed conversions (1)	106,145			101,939			105,402			100,645
Earnings per Common Share - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders	$	0.55		$	0.32		$	1.23		$	0.92
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders	—			—			—			4.16
Net income available for common stockholders	$	0.55		$	0.32		$	1.23		$	5.08

__________


(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 [Table Text Block]

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



	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2017			2016			2017			2016
Earnings per Common Unit - basic:
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations	$	59,549		$	33,840		$	132,588		$	95,510
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates from continuing operations	(315		)	(319		)	(914		)	(941		)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(623		)	(624		)	(1,869		)	(1,877		)
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders	58,611			32,897			129,805			92,692
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders	—			—			—			418,593
Net income available for common unitholders	$	58,611		$	32,897		$	129,805		$	511,285
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Unit – weighted average units	105,660			101,422			104,914			100,142
Earnings per Common Unit - basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders	$	0.55		$	0.32		$	1.24		$	0.93
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders	—			—			—			4.18
Net income available for common unitholders	$	0.55		$	0.32		$	1.24		$	5.11
Earnings per Common Unit - diluted:
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations	$	59,549		$	33,840		$	132,588		$	95,510
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates from continuing operations	(315		)	(319		)	(914		)	(941		)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(623		)	(624		)	(1,869		)	(1,877		)
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders	58,611			32,897			129,805			92,692
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders	—			—			—			418,593
Net income available for common unitholders	$	58,611		$	32,897		$	129,805		$	511,285
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Unit – weighted average units	105,660			101,422			104,914			100,142
Add:
Stock options using the treasury method	76			108			79			94
Denominator for diluted earnings per Common Unit – adjusted weighted average units and assumed conversions (1)	105,736			101,530			104,993			100,236
Earnings per Common Unit - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders	$	0.55		$	0.32		$	1.24		$	0.92
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders	—			—			—			4.18
Net income available for common unitholders	$	0.55		$	0.32		$	1.24		$	5.10

__________


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

Segment Information (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Reconciliation of Revenue from Segments to Consolidated [Table Text Block]

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 September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2017		2016		2017		2016
Rental and Other Revenues:
Office:
Atlanta	$	36,471	$	33,340	$	106,027	$	101,188
Greensboro	5,370		5,167		15,956		15,351
Memphis	11,459		12,330		35,077		36,275
Nashville	28,945		23,979		81,471		71,760
Orlando	13,309		11,678		38,183		34,360
Pittsburgh	14,719		14,386		44,420		43,721
Raleigh	30,524		27,767		90,167		84,013
Richmond	11,152		11,414		33,200		33,420
Tampa	25,072		22,836		72,578		67,088
Total Office Segment	177,021		162,897		517,079		487,176
Other	3,164		3,372		9,797		10,812
Total Rental and Other Revenues	$	180,185	$	166,269	$	526,876	$	497,988

Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Table Text Block]



	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2017			2016			2017			2016
Net Operating Income:
Office:
Atlanta	$	23,600		$	20,718		$	68,150		$	63,681
Greensboro	3,367			3,187			10,116			9,544
Memphis	6,930			7,753			21,474			22,566
Nashville	21,000			17,042			59,250			51,470
Orlando	7,999			6,633			23,007			19,638
Pittsburgh	8,822			8,482			26,396			25,193
Raleigh	21,960			19,525			65,345			59,935
Richmond	6,987			7,602			22,453			22,718
Tampa	15,972			14,349			46,297			42,037
Total Office Segment	116,637			105,291			342,488			316,782
Other	2,314			2,358			6,904			7,491
Total Net Operating Income	118,951			107,649			349,392			324,273
Reconciliation to income from continuing operations before disposition of investment properties and activity in unconsolidated affiliates:
Depreciation and amortization	(56,973		)	(52,923		)	(168,934		)	(161,734		)
Impairments of real estate assets	(1,445		)	—			(1,445		)	—
General and administrative expenses	(9,247		)	(9,863		)	(29,787		)	(29,327		)
Interest expense	(17,191		)	(18,566		)	(51,208		)	(58,756		)
Other income	558			833			2,632			1,884
Income from continuing operations before disposition of investment properties and activity in unconsolidated affiliates	$	34,653		$	27,130		$	100,650		$	76,340

Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands, ft² in Millions	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($) a ft² $ / shares shares	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)
Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Rentable square feet of commercial real estate properties (in sq feet) \| ft²		30.9
Rentable square feet of commercial real estate properties under development (in sq feet) \| ft²		0.6
Undeveloped land suitable for development (in acres) \| a		400
Net proceeds of Common Stock sold during the period \| $		$ 70,307	$ 187,214
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member]
Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Common Units of partnership owned by the Company (in shares)		102,800,000
Percentage of ownership of Common Units (in hundredths)		97.30%
Common Units redeemed for a like number of common shares of stock (in shares)		8,000
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member] \| ATM Equity Offering [Member]
Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Net proceeds of Common Stock sold during the period \| $		$ 68,300
Number of Common Stock sold during the period (in shares)		1,363,919
Average price of Common Stock sold during the period (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares		$ 50.85
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member] \| ATM Equity Offering [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Net proceeds of Common Stock sold during the period \| $	$ 300,000
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			9 Months Ended
Real Estate Assets (Details) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($) property	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($) property	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)
Dispositions [Abstract]
Gains on disposition of property	$ 19,849		$ 3,902	$ 25,181	$ 14,160
Impairments [Abstract]
Impairments of real estate assets	$ 1,445		$ 0	$ 1,445	$ 0
2017 Dispositions [Member]
Dispositions [Abstract]
Number of buildings sold \| property	12			12
Purchase price of real estate	$ 78,000	$ 13,000
Disposition closing credits excluded	2,500	1,200
Gains on disposition of property	19,800	$ 5,300
2017 Impairments [Member]
Impairments [Abstract]
Impairments of real estate assets	$ 1,400

Mortgages and Notes Receivable (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Mortgages and notes receivable [Abstract]
Mortgages and notes receivable, net	$ 6,789	$ 8,833

Intangible Assets and Below Market Lease Liabilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Assets:
Deferred leasing costs (including lease incentives and above market lease and in-place lease acquisition-related intangible assets)	$ 348,628		$ 348,628		$ 353,581
Deferred leasing costs, accumulated amortization	(145,814)		(145,814)		(140,081)
Deferred leasing costs, net/Total scheduled future amortization of intangible assets	202,814		202,814		213,500
Liabilities (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities):
Acquisition-related below market lease liabilities, gross	60,304		60,304		61,221
Acquisition-related below market lease liabilities, accumulated amortization	(26,905)		(26,905)		(23,074)
Acquisition-related below market lease liabilities, net	33,399		33,399		$ 38,147
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	184,476		184,476
Amortization of intangible assets and below market lease liabilities [Abstract]
Amortization of intangible assets	10,130	$ 10,111	30,882	$ 33,177
Lease Incentives (in Rental and Other Revenues) [Member]
Assets:
Deferred leasing costs, net/Total scheduled future amortization of intangible assets	9,639		9,639
Amortization of intangible assets and below market lease liabilities [Abstract]
Amortization of intangible assets	444	273	1,284	1,374
Acquisition-Related Intangible Assets (in Rental and Other Revenues) [Member]
Assets:
Deferred leasing costs, net/Total scheduled future amortization of intangible assets	6,934		6,934
Amortization of intangible assets and below market lease liabilities [Abstract]
Amortization of intangible assets	671	901	2,382	2,904
Acquisition-Related Intangible Assets (in Rental Property and Other Expenses) [Member]
Assets:
Deferred leasing costs, net/Total scheduled future amortization of intangible assets	1,765		1,765
Amortization of intangible assets and below market lease liabilities [Abstract]
Amortization of intangible assets	140	140	416	417
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	33,399		33,399
Amortization of intangible assets and below market lease liabilities [Abstract]
Amortization of acquisition-related below market lease liabilities	$ (1,576)	$ (1,734)	$ (4,748)	$ (6,294)

Intangible Assets and Below Market Lease Liabilities - Scheduled Future Amortization (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Scheduled future amortization of intangible assets [Abstract]
Deferred leasing costs, net/Total scheduled future amortization of intangible assets	$ 202,814	$ 213,500
Scheduled future amortization of below market lease liabilities [Abstract]
Total scheduled future amortization of acquisition-related below market lease liabilities	(33,399)	$ (38,147)
Deferred Leasing Costs and Acquisition-Related Intangible Assets (in Depreciation and Amortization) [Member]
Scheduled future amortization of intangible assets [Abstract]
October 1 through December 31, 2017	10,019
2018	35,970
2019	30,311
2020	25,589
2021	21,254
Thereafter	61,333
Deferred leasing costs, net/Total scheduled future amortization of intangible assets	$ 184,476
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 7 months 12 days
Lease Incentives (in Rental and Other Revenues) [Member]
Scheduled future amortization of intangible assets [Abstract]
October 1 through December 31, 2017	$ 427
2018	1,599
2019	1,377
2020	1,101
2021	886
Thereafter	4,249
Deferred leasing costs, net/Total scheduled future amortization of intangible assets	$ 9,639
Weighted average remaining amortization periods for intangible assets and below market lease liabilities [Abstract]
Finite-lived intangible assets, average useful life (in years)	9 years 6 months
Acquisition-Related Intangible Assets (in Rental and Other Revenues) [Member]
Scheduled future amortization of intangible assets [Abstract]
October 1 through December 31, 2017	$ 469
2018	1,680
2019	1,286
2020	967
2021	647
Thereafter	1,885
Deferred leasing costs, net/Total scheduled future amortization of intangible assets	$ 6,934
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]
October 1 through December 31, 2017	$ 134
2018	553
2019	553
2020	525
2021	0
Thereafter	0
Deferred leasing costs, net/Total scheduled future amortization of intangible assets	$ 1,765
Weighted average remaining amortization periods for intangible assets and below market lease liabilities [Abstract]
Finite-lived intangible assets, average useful life (in years)	3 years 2 months 15 days
Acquisition-Related Below Market Lease Liabilities (in Rental and Other Revenues) [Member]
Scheduled future amortization of below market lease liabilities [Abstract]
October 1 through December 31, 2017	$ (1,497)
2018	(5,962)
2019	(5,492)
2020	(5,180)
2021	(4,409)
Thereafter	(10,859)
Total scheduled future amortization of acquisition-related below market lease liabilities	$ (33,399)
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 9 months 20 days

Mortgages and Notes Payable (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
Mortgages and Notes Payable (Details) - USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Mortgages and notes payable	$ 1,966,398,000				$ 1,966,398,000			$ 1,948,047,000
Unamortized debt issuance costs	(8,262,000)				(8,262,000)			(6,302,000)
Gains on debt extinguishment	$ 0			$ 0	826,000	$ 0
Maximum liquidity requirements (in years)	1 year
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity on revolving credit facility	$ 475,000,000				475,000,000
Maturity date on revolving credit facility	Jan. 01, 2018
Annual facility fee (in hundredths)	0.20%
Amount outstanding on revolving credit facility	$ 72,000,000				72,000,000
Outstanding letters of credit on revolving credit facility	600,000				600,000
Unused borrowing capacity on revolving credit facility	$ 402,400,000				402,400,000
5.10%(4.22% effective rate) Mortgage Loan due 2017 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Early repayment of debt		$ 108,200,000
Effective interest rate (in hundredths)		4.22%
Scheduled maturity date		Nov. 01, 2017
Gains on debt extinguishment		$ 400,000
6.11% (5.36% effective rate) Mortgage Loan due 2017 (Note A) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Early repayment of debt		18,000,000.0
Effective interest rate (in hundredths)							5.36%
Scheduled maturity date							Jul. 06, 2017
Percentage of partner's interest in asset acquired (in hundredths)							77.20%
Principal debt amount							$ 18,000,000
6.11% (8.60% effective rate) Mortgage Loan due 2017 (Note B) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Early repayment of debt		500,000
Effective interest rate (in hundredths)							8.60%
Scheduled maturity date							Jul. 06, 2017
Gains on debt extinguishment		$ 400,000
Principal debt amount							$ 10,200,000
Percentage of excess funds after waterfall payments (in hundredths)							50.00%
Stated return on funds deposited in escrow (in hundredths)							10.00%
Projected waterfall payment							$ 1,000,000
4.0% Mortgage Loan due May 2029 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Effective interest rate (in hundredths)		4.00%
Scheduled maturity date		May 01, 2029
Principal debt amount		$ 100,000,000
Debt issuance costs incurred		800,000
3.875% (4.038% effective rate) Notes due 2027 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Effective interest rate (in hundredths)			4.038%
Scheduled maturity date			Mar. 01, 2027
Debt issuance costs incurred			$ 2,500,000
Original issue discount			4,000,000
5.85% (5.88% effective rate) Notes due 2017 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal debt amount			$ 379,700,000
Interest rate (in hundredths)			5.85%
Variable Rate Term Loan due 2022 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal debt amount			$ 150,000,000
Variable Rate Term Loan (amended) due 2022 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Scheduled maturity date			Jan. 01, 2022
Principal debt amount			$ 200,000,000
Debt issuance costs incurred			$ 300,000
7.50% Notes due 2018 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Scheduled maturity date	Apr. 15, 2018
Principal debt amount	$ 200,000,000				200,000,000
Secured indebtedness [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Mortgages and notes payable	99,421,000				99,421,000			128,204,000
Aggregate undepreciated book value of secured real estate assets	147,700,000				147,700,000
Unsecured indebtedness [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Mortgages and notes payable	$ 1,875,239,000				$ 1,875,239,000			$ 1,826,145,000
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] \| Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Facility interest rate basis	LIBOR plus 110 basis points
Interest rate, basis spread (in hundredths)	1.10%
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] \| Variable Rate Term Loan (amended) due 2022 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, basis spread (in hundredths)			1.10%
Variable interest rate basis			LIBOR plus 110 basis points
3.875% (4.038% effective rate) Notes due 2027 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal debt amount			$ 300,000,000
Interest rate (in hundredths)			3.875%
Floating to Fixed Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount of borrowings, subject to swaps		$ 50,000,000

Derivative Financial Instruments (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
Derivative Financial Instruments (Details) - USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Derivative [Line Items]
Expected increase to interest expense	$ 100,000				$ 100,000
Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges in prepaid expenses and other assets [Abstract]
Interest rate swaps	306,000				306,000		$ 7,619,000
Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities [Abstract]
Interest rate swaps	1,059,000				1,059,000		1,870,000
Amount of unrealized gains/(losses) recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) on derivatives (effective portion) [Abstract]
Interest rate swaps	(347,000)			$ 1,610,000	(31,000)	$ (7,785,000)
Amount of losses reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) into contractual interest expense (effective portion) [Abstract]
Interest rate swaps	$ 211,000			$ 758,000	$ 992,000	$ 2,336,000
Forward Starting Swaps [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Amount of borrowings, subject to swaps		$ 150,000,000					$ 150,000,000
Underlying treasury rate term (in periods)		10 years					10 years
Underlying treasury rate locked by forward-starting swaps (in hundredths)		2.44%					1.90%
Gain on forward-starting interest rate swaps			$ 7,300,000
Floating to Fixed Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Amount of borrowings, subject to swaps		$ 50,000,000
Underlying treasury rate term (in periods)		1 month
3.875% (4.038% effective rate) Notes due 2027 [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Principal debt amount			$ 300,000,000
Interest rate (in hundredths)			3.875%
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] \| Floating to Fixed Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Underlying treasury rate locked by forward-starting swaps (in hundredths)		1.693%

Noncontrolling Interests (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
Noncontrolling Interests (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
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			$ 144,802
Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership to fair value			3,297	$ 13,390
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock			(408)	(3,006)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	$ 1,571	$ 926	3,502	14,876
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership			(3,742)	(3,684)
Total noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	147,451		147,451
Net Income Available for Common Stockholders and Transfers From Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership [Abstract]
Net income available for common stockholders	57,040	31,971	126,303	496,409
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member]
Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership [Roll Forward]
Beginning noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership			144,802	126,429
Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership to fair value			3,297	13,390
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock			(408)	(3,006)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership			3,502	14,876
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership			(3,742)	(3,684)
Total noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	147,451	148,005	147,451	148,005
Net Income Available for Common Stockholders and Transfers From Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership [Abstract]
Net income available for common stockholders	57,040	31,971	126,303	496,409
Increase in additional paid in capital from conversions of Common Units to Common Stock	103	1,448	408	3,006
Change from net income available for common stockholders and transfers from noncontrolling interests	$ 57,143	$ 33,419	$ 126,711	$ 499,415

Disclosure About Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Tax Increment Financing Bond [Member]
Tax increment financing bond [Abstract]
Estimated fair value of outstanding principal amount at the date of sale	$ 11.2

Disclosure About Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Assets:
Mortgages and notes receivable, at fair value	$ 6,789	$ 8,833
Interest rate swaps (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	306	7,619
Marketable securities of non-qualified deferred compensation plan (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	2,269	2,451
Impaired real estate assets	5,888
Total Assets	15,252	18,903
Liabilities:
Mortgages and notes payable, net, at fair value	1,983,723	1,965,611
Interest rate swaps (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	1,059	1,870
Non-qualified deferred compensation obligation (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	2,269	2,451
Total Liabilities	1,987,051	1,969,932
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)	2,269	2,451
Impaired real estate assets	0
Total Assets	2,269	2,451
Liabilities:
Mortgages and notes payable, net, at fair value	0	0
Interest rate swaps (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	0	0
Non-qualified deferred compensation obligation (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	2,269	2,451
Total Liabilities	2,269	2,451
Level 2 [Member]
Assets:
Mortgages and notes receivable, at fair value	6,789	8,833
Interest rate swaps (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	306	7,619
Marketable securities of non-qualified deferred compensation plan (in prepaid expenses and other assets)	0	0
Impaired real estate assets	0
Total Assets	7,095	16,452
Liabilities:
Mortgages and notes payable, net, at fair value	1,983,723	1,965,611
Interest rate swaps (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	1,059	1,870
Non-qualified deferred compensation obligation (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	0	0
Total Liabilities	1,984,782	1,967,481
Level 3 [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)	0	0
Impaired real estate assets	5,888
Total Assets	5,888	0
Liabilities:
Mortgages and notes payable, net, at fair value	0	0
Interest rate swaps (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	0	0
Non-qualified deferred compensation obligation (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)	0	0
Total Liabilities	0	0
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member]
Assets:
Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership	147,451	144,802
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member] \| Level 1 [Member]
Assets:
Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership	147,451	144,802
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member] \| Level 2 [Member]
Assets:
Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership	0	0
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member] \| Level 3 [Member]
Assets:
Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership	$ 0	$ 0

Share-Based Payments (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense	$ 900	$ 900	$ 5,764	$ 5,412
Total unrecognized stock-based compensation costs	$ 6,100		$ 6,100
Weighted average remaining contractual term for recognition of unrecognized stock-based compensation costs (in years)			2 years 4 months
Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member] \| Stock Options [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock options granted (in shares)			168,748
Weighted average grant date fair value of each stock option granted (in dollars per option)			$ 6.72
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)			61,404
Weighted average grant date fair value of each restricted stock share granted (in dollars per share)			$ 52.49
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)			49,344
Weighted average grant date fair value of each restricted stock share granted (in dollars per share)			$ 49.59

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Calculation [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 6,046	$ (11,628)	$ 4,949	$ (3,811)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on cash flow hedges	(347)	1,610	(31)	(7,785)
Amortization of cash flow hedges	211	758	992	2,336
Total accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss)	$ 5,910	$ (9,260)	$ 5,910	$ (9,260)

Discontinued Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
Discontinued Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Operating expenses:
Income from discontinued operations	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 4,097
Net gains on disposition of discontinued operations	0	0	0	414,496
Total income from discontinued operations	0	0	0	418,593
Disposal Group, Discontinued Operations [Member]
Discontinued Operations [Abstract]
Rental and other revenues	0	0	0	8,484
Operating expenses:
Rental property and other expenses	0	0	0	3,334
General and administrative	0	0	0	1,388
Total operating expenses	0	0	0	4,722
Interest expense	0	0	0	85
Other income	0	0	0	420
Income from discontinued operations	0	0	0	4,097
Net gains on disposition of discontinued operations	0	0	0	414,496
Total income from discontinued operations	$ 0	$ 0	0	418,593
Net Cash Provided by/(Used in) Discontinued Operations [Abstract]
Cash flows from operating activities			0	2,040
Cash flows from investing activities			$ 0	$ 417,097

Earnings Per Share and Per Unit (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Earnings per Common Share and Per Unit - basic: [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations	$ 59,549	$ 33,840	$ 132,588	$ 95,510
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership from continuing operations	(1,571)	(926)	(3,502)	(2,611)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates from continuing operations	(315)	(319)	(914)	(941)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(623)	(624)	(1,869)	(1,877)
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders	57,040	31,971	126,303	90,081
Income from discontinued operations	0	0	0	418,593
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership from discontinued operations	0	0	0	(12,265)
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders	0	0	0	406,328
Net income available for common stockholders	$ 57,040	$ 31,971	$ 126,303	$ 496,409
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Share - weighted average shares (in shares)	103,237	98,973	102,489	97,669
Earnings per Common Share - basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.55	$ 0.32	$ 1.23	$ 0.92
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	0.00	0.00	0.00	4.16
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.55	$ 0.32	$ 1.23	$ 5.08
Earnings per Common Share and Per Unit - diluted: [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations	$ 59,549	$ 33,840	$ 132,588	$ 95,510
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(315)	(319)	(914)	(941)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(623)	(624)	(1,869)	(1,877)
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders before net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	58,611	32,897	129,805	92,692
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders	0	0	0	418,593
Net income available for common stockholders before net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	$ 58,611	$ 32,897	$ 129,805	$ 511,285
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Share - weighted average shares (in shares)	103,237	98,973	102,489	97,669
Stock options using the treasury method (in shares)	76	108	79	94
Noncontrolling interests Common Units (in shares)	2,832	2,858	2,834	2,882
Denominator for diluted earnings per Common Share - adjusted weighted average shares and assumed conversions (in shares)	106,145	101,939	105,402	100,645
Earnings per Common Share - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.55	$ 0.32	$ 1.23	$ 0.92
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	0.00	0.00	0.00	4.16
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.55	$ 0.32	$ 1.23	$ 5.08
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Earnings per Common Share and Per Unit - basic: [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations	$ 59,549	$ 33,840	$ 132,588	$ 95,510
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates from continuing operations	(315)	(319)	(914)	(941)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(623)	(624)	(1,869)	(1,877)
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders	58,611	32,897	129,805	92,692
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders	0	0	0	418,593
Net income available for common unitholders	$ 58,611	$ 32,897	$ 129,805	$ 511,285
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Unit - weighted average units (in shares)	105,660	101,422	104,914	100,142
Earnings per Common Unit - basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.55	$ 0.32	$ 1.24	$ 0.93
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	0.00	0.00	0.00	4.18
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.55	$ 0.32	$ 1.24	$ 5.11
Earnings per Common Share and Per Unit - diluted: [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations	$ 59,549	$ 33,840	$ 132,588	$ 95,510
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(315)	(319)	(914)	(941)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(623)	(624)	(1,869)	(1,877)
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders	58,611	32,897	129,805	92,692
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders	0	0	0	418,593
Net income available for common unitholders	$ 58,611	$ 32,897	$ 129,805	$ 511,285
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Unit - weighted average units (in shares)	105,660	101,422	104,914	100,142
Stock options using the treasury method (in shares)	76	108	79	94
Denominator for diluted earnings per Common Unit - adjusted weighted average units and assumed conversions (in shares)	105,736	101,530	104,993	100,236
Earnings per Common Unit - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.55	$ 0.32	$ 1.24	$ 0.92
Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	0.00	0.00	0.00	4.18
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.55	$ 0.32	$ 1.24	$ 5.10

Segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
Segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Rental and Other Revenues	$ 180,185	$ 166,269	$ 526,876	$ 497,988
Total Net Operating Income	118,951	107,649	349,392	324,273
Reconciliation to income from continuing operations before disposition of investment properties and activity in unconsolidated affiliates:
Depreciation and amortization	(56,973)	(52,923)	(168,934)	(161,734)
Impairments of real estate assets	(1,445)	0	(1,445)	0
General and administrative expenses	(9,247)	(9,863)	(29,787)	(29,327)
Interest expense	(17,191)	(18,566)	(51,208)	(58,756)
Other income	558	833	2,632	1,884
Income from continuing operations before disposition of investment properties and activity in unconsolidated affiliates	34,653	27,130	100,650	76,340
Total Office Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Rental and Other Revenues	177,021	162,897	517,079	487,176
Total Net Operating Income	116,637	105,291	342,488	316,782
Office Atlanta, GA [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Rental and Other Revenues	36,471	33,340	106,027	101,188
Total Net Operating Income	23,600	20,718	68,150	63,681
Office Greensboro, NC [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Rental and Other Revenues	5,370	5,167	15,956	15,351
Total Net Operating Income	3,367	3,187	10,116	9,544
Office Memphis, TN [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Rental and Other Revenues	11,459	12,330	35,077	36,275
Total Net Operating Income	6,930	7,753	21,474	22,566
Office Nashville, TN [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Rental and Other Revenues	28,945	23,979	81,471	71,760
Total Net Operating Income	21,000	17,042	59,250	51,470
Office Orlando, FL [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Rental and Other Revenues	13,309	11,678	38,183	34,360
Total Net Operating Income	7,999	6,633	23,007	19,638
Office Pittsburgh, PA [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Rental and Other Revenues	14,719	14,386	44,420	43,721
Total Net Operating Income	8,822	8,482	26,396	25,193
Office Raleigh, NC [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Rental and Other Revenues	30,524	27,767	90,167	84,013
Total Net Operating Income	21,960	19,525	65,345	59,935
Office Richmond, VA [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Rental and Other Revenues	11,152	11,414	33,200	33,420
Total Net Operating Income	6,987	7,602	22,453	22,718
Office Tampa, FL [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Rental and Other Revenues	25,072	22,836	72,578	67,088
Total Net Operating Income	15,972	14,349	46,297	42,037
Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Rental and Other Revenues	3,164	3,372	9,797	10,812
Total Net Operating Income	$ 2,314	$ 2,358	$ 6,904	$ 7,491

Subsequent Events (Details)	1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
Subsequent Events (Details)	Oct. 19, 2017 $ / shares	Oct. 18, 2017 USD ($) extensions	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($) $ / shares	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) $ / shares	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($) $ / shares	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) $ / shares
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Losses on debt extinguishment			$ 0		$ 0	$ 826,000	$ 0
Dividends declared per Common Share (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares			$ 0.440		$ 0.425	$ 1.320	$ 1.275
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity on revolving credit facility			$ 475,000,000			$ 475,000,000
Maturity date on revolving credit facility			Jan. 01, 2018
Annual facility fee (in hundredths)			0.20%
Amount outstanding on revolving credit facility			$ 72,000,000			72,000,000
Outstanding letters of credit on revolving credit facility			600,000			600,000
Unused borrowing capacity on revolving credit facility			$ 402,400,000			$ 402,400,000
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity on revolving credit facility		$ 600,000,000
Additional borrowing capacity on revolving credit facility		$ 400,000,000
Maturity date on revolving credit facility		Jan. 31, 2022
Number of addtional maturity extensions \| extensions		2
Term of optional extension		6 months
Debt issuance costs incurred		$ 3,500,000
Losses on debt extinguishment		(100,000)
Amount outstanding on revolving credit facility		200,000,000
Outstanding letters of credit on revolving credit facility		600,000
Unused borrowing capacity on revolving credit facility		399,400,000
Variable Rate Term Loan (amended) due 2022 [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Debt issuance costs incurred				$ 300,000
Principal debt amount				$ 200,000,000
Scheduled maturity date				Jan. 01, 2022
Variable Rate Term Loan (amended) due 2022 [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Debt issuance costs incurred		1,100,000
Losses on debt extinguishment		(400,000)
Principal debt amount		$ 200,000,000
Scheduled maturity date		Nov. 30, 2022
Variable Rate Term Loan (1) due 2019 [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Term of debt instrument		5 years
Scheduled maturity date		Jan. 01, 2019
Variable Rate Term Loan due 2020 [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Losses on debt extinguishment		$ (400,000)
Principal debt amount		$ 350,000,000
Scheduled maturity date		Jun. 01, 2020
Early repayment of debt		$ 125,000,000
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] \| Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Facility interest rate basis			LIBOR plus 110 basis points
Interest rate, basis spread (in hundredths)			1.10%
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] \| Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Facility interest rate basis		LIBOR plus 100 basis points
Interest rate, basis spread (in hundredths)		1.00%
Annual facility fee (in hundredths)		0.20%
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] \| Variable Rate Term Loan (amended) due 2022 [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Interest rate, basis spread (in hundredths)				1.10%
Variable interest rate basis				LIBOR plus 110 basis points
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] \| Variable Rate Term Loan (amended) due 2022 [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Interest rate, basis spread (in hundredths)		1.10%
Variable interest rate basis		LIBOR plus 110 basis points
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] \| Variable Rate Term Loan (1) due 2019 [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Interest rate, basis spread (in hundredths)		1.20%
Variable interest rate basis		LIBOR plus 120 basis points
Dividend Declared [Member] \| Highwoods Properties, Inc. [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Dividends declared per Common Share (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	$ 0.44