Earnings Per Common Share ("EPS") (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions		3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016		Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent			$ 218			$ 710
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent			422			630
Net Income - YUM! Brands, Inc.		$ 418	$ 640		$ 904	$ 1,340
Weighted-average common shares outstanding (for basic calculation)		345,000,000	388,000,000		351,000,000	404,000,000
Effect of dilutive share-based employee compensation		8,000,000	7,000,000		7,000,000	6,000,000
Weighted-average common and dilutive potential common shares outstanding (for diluted calculation)		353,000,000	395,000,000		358,000,000	410,000,000
Basic EPS		$ 1.21	$ 1.65		$ 2.58	$ 3.32
Diluted EPS		$ 1.18	$ 1.62		$ 2.52	$ 3.27
Unexercised employee stock options and stock appreciation rights (in millions) excluded from the diluted EPS computation	[1]	1,900,000	1,700,000		2,300,000	6,000,000.0
Continuing Operations [Member]
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent		$ 418	$ 218		$ 904	$ 710
Basic EPS		$ 1.21	$ 0.56		$ 2.58	$ 1.76
Diluted EPS		$ 1.18	$ 0.55		$ 2.52	$ 1.73
Discontinued Operations [Member]
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent		$ 0	$ 422	[2]	$ 0	$ 630	[3]
Basic EPS			$ 1.09			$ 1.56
Diluted EPS			$ 1.07			$ 1.54

[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.

[2] Includes historical Yum China financial results from June 1, 2016 to August 31, 2016.

[3] Includes historical Yum China financial results from January 1, 2016 to August 31, 2016, plus an additional month of expense associated with the license fee paid to YUM to conform to the new YUM reporting calendar.