Earnings Per Common Share ("EPS") (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 24, 2012		Mar. 19, 2011
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net Income - YUM! Brands, Inc.	$ 458		$ 264
Weighted-average common shares outstanding (for basic calculation)	465		473
Effect of dilutive share-based employee compensation	13		13
Weighted-average common and dilutive potential common shares outstanding (for diluted calculation)	478		486
Basic EPS	$ 0.99		$ 0.56
Diluted EPS	$ 0.96		$ 0.54
Unexercised employee stock options and stock appreciation rights (in millions) excluded from the diluted EPS computation	1.9	[1]	2.3	[1]

[1] These unexercised employee stock options and stock appreciation rights were not included in the computation of diluted EPS because to do so would have been antidilutive for the periods presented.