Revenue Recognition - Adjustments to balance sheet due to Topic 606 and Pro Forma adjustments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2018	Jan. 01, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 913	$ 1,097	$ 1,097	$ 1,476	$ 792
Accounts and notes receivable, net	452	489	489
Inventories, net	75	78	78
Prepaids and other current assets	60	63	86
Total current assets	1,500	1,727	1,750
Property and equipment, net	1,996	2,133	2,133
Intangible assets, net	10,463	11,062	11,062
Goodwill	5,486	5,782	5,782
Net investment in property leased to franchisees	54	71	71
Other assets, net	642	533	426
Total assets	20,141	21,308	21,224
Current liabilities:
Accounts and drafts payable	513	496	496
Other accrued liabilities	637	875	866
Gift card liability	167	172	215
Current portion of long term debt and capital leases	91	78	78
Total current liabilities	1,408	1,621	1,655
Term debt, net of current portion	11,823	11,801	11,801
Capital leases, net of current portion	226	244	244
Other liabilities, net	1,547	1,881	1,455
Deferred income taxes, net	1,519	1,450	1,508
Total liabilities	16,523	16,997	16,663
Shareholders’ equity:
Common shares	1,737	2,052	2,052
Retained earnings	674	519	651
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(800)	(476)	(476)
Total Restaurant Brands International Inc. shareholders’ equity	1,611	2,095	2,227
Noncontrolling interests	2,007	2,216	2,334
Total shareholders’ equity	3,618	4,311	4,561	$ 3,489	$ 2,914
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	20,141	21,308	21,224
Amounts Under Previous Standards
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	913		1,097
Accounts and notes receivable, net	452		489
Inventories, net	75		78
Prepaids and other current assets	77		86
Total current assets	1,517		1,750
Property and equipment, net	1,996		2,133
Intangible assets, net	10,463		11,062
Goodwill	5,486		5,782
Net investment in property leased to franchisees	54		71
Other assets, net	541		426
Total assets	20,057		21,224
Current liabilities:
Accounts and drafts payable	520		496
Other accrued liabilities	622		866
Gift card liability	209		215
Current portion of long term debt and capital leases	91		78
Total current liabilities	1,442		1,655
Term debt, net of current portion	11,823		11,801
Capital leases, net of current portion	226		244
Other liabilities, net	1,079		1,455
Deferred income taxes, net	1,586		1,508
Total liabilities	16,156		16,663
Shareholders’ equity:
Common shares	1,737		2,052
Retained earnings	829		651
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(800)		(476)
Total Restaurant Brands International Inc. shareholders’ equity	1,766		2,227
Noncontrolling interests	2,135		2,334
Total shareholders’ equity	3,901		4,561
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	20,057		21,224
Total Adjustments | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	0		0
Accounts and notes receivable, net	0		0
Inventories, net	0		0
Prepaids and other current assets	17		(23)
Total current assets	17		(23)
Property and equipment, net	0		0
Intangible assets, net	0		0
Goodwill	0		0
Net investment in property leased to franchisees	0		0
Other assets, net	(101)	$ 107	107
Total assets	(84)		84
Current liabilities:
Accounts and drafts payable	7		0
Other accrued liabilities	(15)		9
Gift card liability	42		(43)
Current portion of long term debt and capital leases	0		0
Total current liabilities	34		(34)
Term debt, net of current portion	0		0
Capital leases, net of current portion	0		0
Other liabilities, net	(468)		426
Deferred income taxes, net	67		(58)
Total liabilities	(367)		334
Shareholders’ equity:
Common shares	0		0
Retained earnings	155		(132)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	0		0
Total Restaurant Brands International Inc. shareholders’ equity	155		(132)
Noncontrolling interests	128		(118)
Total shareholders’ equity	283		(250)
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$ (84)		$ 84