Revenue Disaggregation of Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Mar. 29, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Disaggregation of Revenue
Franchise rental income	$ 57,856	$ 58,452
Total revenues	404,960	408,583
Sales at Company-operated restaurants
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	166,798	167,697
Franchise royalty revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	95,356	94,843
Franchise fees
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	6,349	7,110
Advertising funds revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	78,601	80,481
Wendy's U.S.
Disaggregation of Revenue
Franchise rental income	0	0
Total revenues	331,041	333,486
Wendy's U.S. \| Sales at Company-operated restaurants
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	166,798	167,697
Wendy's U.S. \| Franchise royalty revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	84,833	84,378
Wendy's U.S. \| Franchise fees
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	5,285	5,430
Wendy's U.S. \| Advertising funds revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	74,125	75,981
Wendy's International
Disaggregation of Revenue
Franchise rental income	0	0
Total revenues	15,472	15,998
Wendy's International \| Sales at Company-operated restaurants
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	0	0
Wendy's International \| Franchise royalty revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	10,523	10,465
Wendy's International \| Franchise fees
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	473	1,033
Wendy's International \| Advertising funds revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	4,476	4,500
Global Real Estate & Development
Disaggregation of Revenue
Franchise rental income	57,856	58,452
Total revenues	58,447	59,099
Global Real Estate & Development \| Sales at Company-operated restaurants
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	0	0
Global Real Estate & Development \| Franchise royalty revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	0	0
Global Real Estate & Development \| Franchise fees
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	591	647
Global Real Estate & Development \| Advertising funds revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	$ 0	$ 0

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Amount of operating lease income from lease payments and variable lease payments paid and payable to lessor. Includes, but is not limited to, variable lease payments not included in measurement of lease receivable.

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