Revenue Disaggregation of Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jul. 04, 2021	Jun. 28, 2020	Jul. 04, 2021	Jun. 28, 2020
Disaggregation of Revenue
Franchise rental income	$ 60,868	$ 56,857	$ 119,744	$ 114,713
Total revenues	493,337	402,306	953,540	807,266
Sales at Company-operated restaurants
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	193,525	164,217	382,582	331,015
Franchise royalty revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	119,566	97,191	227,900	192,547
Franchise fees
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	17,095	5,929	31,591	12,278
Advertising funds revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	102,283	78,112	191,723	156,713
Wendy's U.S.
Disaggregation of Revenue
Franchise rental income	0	0	0	0
Total revenues	409,843	331,258	791,797	662,299
Wendy's U.S. | Sales at Company-operated restaurants
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	193,279	164,217	382,336	331,015
Wendy's U.S. | Franchise royalty revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	106,006	88,121	202,770	172,954
Wendy's U.S. | Franchise fees
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	14,331	5,308	26,261	10,593
Wendy's U.S. | Advertising funds revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	96,227	73,612	180,430	147,737
Wendy's International
Disaggregation of Revenue
Franchise rental income	0	0	0	0
Total revenues	21,316	14,003	39,566	29,475
Wendy's International | Sales at Company-operated restaurants
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	246	0	246	0
Wendy's International | Franchise royalty revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	13,560	9,070	25,130	19,593
Wendy's International | Franchise fees
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	1,454	433	2,897	906
Wendy's International | Advertising funds revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	6,056	4,500	11,293	8,976
Global Real Estate & Development
Disaggregation of Revenue
Franchise rental income	60,868	56,857	119,744	114,713
Total revenues	62,178	57,045	122,177	115,492
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	1,310	188	2,433	779
Global Real Estate & Development | Advertising funds revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0