Revenue Disaggregation of Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jun. 28, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 28, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Disaggregation of Revenue
Franchise rental income	$ 56,857	$ 58,561	$ 114,713	$ 117,013
Total revenues	402,306	435,348	807,266	843,931
Sales at Company-operated restaurants
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	164,217	181,050	331,015	348,747
Franchise royalty revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	97,191	102,821	192,547	197,664
Franchise fees
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	5,929	6,304	12,278	13,414
Advertising funds revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	78,112	86,612	156,713	167,093
Wendy's U.S.
Disaggregation of Revenue
Franchise rental income	0	0	0	0
Total revenues	331,258	359,155	662,299	692,641
Wendy's U.S. \| Sales at Company-operated restaurants
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	164,217	181,050	331,015	348,747
Wendy's U.S. \| Franchise royalty revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	88,121	91,430	172,954	175,808
Wendy's U.S. \| Franchise fees
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	5,308	5,238	10,593	10,668
Wendy's U.S. \| Advertising funds revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	73,612	81,437	147,737	157,418
Wendy's International
Disaggregation of Revenue
Franchise rental income	0	0	0	0
Total revenues	14,003	17,030	29,475	33,028
Wendy's International \| Sales at Company-operated restaurants
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	0	0	0	0
Wendy's International \| Franchise royalty revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	9,070	11,391	19,593	21,856
Wendy's International \| Franchise fees
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	433	464	906	1,497
Wendy's International \| Advertising funds revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	4,500	5,175	8,976	9,675
Global Real Estate & Development
Disaggregation of Revenue
Franchise rental income	56,857	58,561	114,713	117,013
Total revenues	57,045	59,163	115,492	118,262
Global Real Estate & Development \| Sales at Company-operated restaurants
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	0	0	0	0
Global Real Estate & Development \| Franchise royalty revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	0	0	0	0
Global Real Estate & Development \| Franchise fees
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	188	602	779	1,249
Global Real Estate & Development \| Advertising funds revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	$ 0	$ 0	$ 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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