Revenue Contract Balances (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Mar. 29, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 29, 2019
Contract balances
Receivables, which are included in Accounts and notes receivable, net	$ 35,450		$ 39,188
Receivables, which are included in Advertising funds restricted assets	44,635		54,394
Deferred franchise fees at beginning of period	100,689	$ 102,205
Revenue recognized during the period	(2,144)	(2,772)
New deferrals due to cash received and other	1,066	2,036
Deferred franchise fees at end of period	99,611	$ 101,469
Deferred franchisee fees, current	8,983		8,899
Deferred franchise fees, noncurrent	$ 90,628		$ 91,790

Amount of deferred income and obligation to transfer product and service to customer for which consideration has been received or is receivable.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(5))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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- Definition

Amount of deferred revenue recognized for transactions arising during the current reporting period. Deferred revenue is a liability as of the balance sheet date related to a revenue producing activity for which revenue has not yet been recognized. Generally, an Entity records deferred revenue when it receives consideration from a customer before achieving certain criteria that must be met for revenue to be recognized in conformity with GAAP.

+ References

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- Definition

Amount of deferred income and obligation to transfer product and service to customer for which consideration has been received or is receivable, classified as current.

+ References

+ Details

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- Definition

Amount of deferred income and obligation to transfer product and service to customer for which consideration has been received or is receivable, classified as noncurrent.

+ References

+ Details

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- Definition

Amount of revenue recognized that was previously reported as deferred or unearned revenue.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

[Line Items] for Contract balances [Table]

+ References

No definition available.

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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
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- Definition

Receivables for franchise royalties and fees and sales from customers

+ References

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	wen_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
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- Definition

Restricted Accounts and Notes Receivable

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	wen_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
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