Guarantees, Commitments and Contingencies (Details 2) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 08, 2012 cases plaintiffs restaurants violations Hours claims States	Dec. 31, 2011
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Taco Bell Wage and Hour Actions - Motion to stay proceedings until rulings on other California Supreme Court cases concerning meal and rest breaks, number of cases	2
Liabilities recorded for property and casualty losses	$ 147,000,000	$ 140,000,000
Moeller v. Taco Bell - Number of company-owned restaurants that may be in the class	220
Moeller v. Taco Bell - Minimum statutory damages per offense under Unruh Act	4,000
Moeller v. Taco Bell - Minimum statutory damages per offense under California Disabled Persons Act	1,000
Moeller v. Taco Bell - Number of individuals contended by plaintiffs that may be in the class	100,000
Moeller v. Taco Bell - Number of restaurant to be subject of trial on ADA claims	1
Moeller v. Taco Bell - Number of specific items that were once out of compliance with applicable accessibility standards	12
Moeller v. Taco Bell, Number of individual plaintiffs' state law damages claims	4
Mark Smith v. Pizza Hut - Number of states that assert state-law class action claims	16
Mark Smith v. Pizza Hut, Inc. - final number of opt-ins, expected minimum	5,400
Mark Smith v. Pizza Hut, Inc. - final number of opt-ins, expected maximum	5,800
Whittington v. Yum Brands and Taco Bell - Number of hours worked per week after which overtime pay was allegedly not received	40
Whittington v. Yum Brands and Taco Bell - Number of individuals submitting opt-in forms	488
Agustine Castillo v. Taco Bell - Number of hours worked in a week, after which overtime pay was allegedly not received	40
Financial standby letter of credit | Franchise Loan Pool Guarantees [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss contingency, amount of guarantee	23,000,000
Number of letters of credit provided	2
Franchise lending program guarantee
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss contingency, amount of guarantee	43,000,000
Total loans outstanding	63,000,000
Guarantee of indebtedness of others | Franchise Loan Pool Guarantees [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss contingency, amount of guarantee	14,000,000
Total loans outstanding	62,000,000
Additional amount under the franchisee loan pool available for lending	$ 18,000,000