Long-Term Debt (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 01, 2018	Apr. 02, 2017	Jan. 17, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Debt Instrument
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations	$ 2,808,021			$ 2,754,402
Less amounts payable within one year	(30,838)			(30,172)
Long-term debt	2,777,183			2,724,230
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	11,475	$ 0
Wendy's U.S. Advertising Fund
Debt Instrument
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity	25,000
Proceeds from Lines of Credit	3,167	4,511
Repayments of Lines of Credit	4,454	$ 4,511
Capital lease obligations, due through 2045
Debt Instrument
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations	$ 467,331			467,964
Series 2018-1 Class A-2-I Notes
Debt Instrument
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	3.573%
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations	$ 448,875		$ 450,000	0
Additional Interest Rate On Debt, After Anticipated Repayment Date			1.35%
Series 2018-1 Class A-2-II Notes
Debt Instrument
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	3.884%
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations	$ 473,813		$ 475,000	0
Additional Interest Rate On Debt, After Anticipated Repayment Date			1.58%
Series 2015-1 Class A-2-I Notes
Debt Instrument
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	3.371%
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations	$ 0			855,313
Series 2015-1 Class A-2-II Notes
Debt Instrument
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	4.08%
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations	$ 877,500			879,750
Series 2015-1 Class A-2-III Notes
Debt Instrument
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	4.497%
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations	$ 487,500			488,750
7% Debentures
Debt Instrument
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations	89,827			89,514
Other Debt Obligations
Debt Instrument
Unamortized debt issuance costs	(36,825)			$ (26,889)
Series 2018-1 Class A-2 Notes
Debt Instrument
Additional Interest Rate On Debt, After Anticipated Repayment Date			5.00%
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal Annually for the Next Seven Years			$ 9,250
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in 2025			423,250
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in 2026 and 2027			4,750
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in 2028			427,500
Series 2018-1 Class A-1 Notes | Letter of Credit
Debt Instrument
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity			$ 150,000
Series 2018-1 Senior Notes
Debt Instrument
Incurred Debt Issuance Costs	$ 17,672