Revenue Disaggregation of Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Oct. 03, 2021	Sep. 27, 2020	Oct. 03, 2021	Sep. 27, 2020
Disaggregation of Revenue
Franchise rental income	$ 62,446	$ 58,721	$ 182,190	$ 173,434
Total revenues	470,255	452,242	1,423,795	1,259,508
Sales at Company-operated restaurants
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	171,078	191,946	553,660	522,961
Franchise royalty revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	116,521	109,344	344,421	301,891
Franchise fees
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	22,234	7,476	53,825	19,754
Advertising funds revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	97,976	84,755	289,699	241,468
Wendy's U.S.
Disaggregation of Revenue
Franchise rental income	0	0	0	0
Total revenues	383,804	374,895	1,175,601	1,037,194
Wendy's U.S. | Sales at Company-operated restaurants
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	169,961	191,946	552,297	522,961
Wendy's U.S. | Franchise royalty revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	102,603	98,128	305,373	271,082
Wendy's U.S. | Franchise fees
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	19,759	5,651	46,020	16,244
Wendy's U.S. | Advertising funds revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	91,481	79,170	271,911	226,907
Wendy's International
Disaggregation of Revenue
Franchise rental income	0	0	0	0
Total revenues	22,674	17,264	62,240	46,739
Wendy's International | Sales at Company-operated restaurants
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	1,117	0	1,363	0
Wendy's International | Franchise royalty revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	13,918	11,216	39,048	30,809
Wendy's International | Franchise fees
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	1,144	463	4,041	1,369
Wendy's International | Advertising funds revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	6,495	5,585	17,788	14,561
Global Real Estate & Development
Disaggregation of Revenue
Franchise rental income	62,446	58,721	182,190	173,434
Total revenues	63,777	60,083	185,954	175,575
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	1,331	1,362	3,764	2,141
Global Real Estate & Development | Advertising funds revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0