Amount of receivables arising from transactions with related parties due within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08(k)(1))
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120395691&loc=d3e23780-122690

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 850
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (d)
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6457730&loc=d3e39549-107864

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 850
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6457730&loc=d3e39603-107864

Reference 4: 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(3)(b))
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AccountsReceivableRelatedPartiesCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the number of restaurants.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NumberOfRestaurants
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Expenses recognized resulting from transactions (excluding transactions that are eliminated in consolidated or combined financial statements) with related party.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 850
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6457730&loc=d3e39549-107864

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionExpensesFromTransactionsWithRelatedParty
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Reflects the sum of all other revenue and income realized from sales and other transactions (excluding transactions that are eliminated in consolidated or combined financial statements) with related party during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionOtherRevenuesFromTransactionsWithRelatedParty
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis=wen_TimwenMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionAxis=wen_FranchiseRentalExpenseMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis=us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpenseMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionAxis=wen_ManagementFeesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis=wen_YellowCabMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionAxis=wen_RoyaltyAdvertisingFundLeaseAndOtherIncomeMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis=wen_AccountsReceivableAndAdvertisingFundsRestrictedAssetsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FranchisorDisclosureAxis=us-gaap_FranchisedUnitsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Transactions with Related Parties (Details) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
Transactions with Related Parties (Details) $ in Thousands	Jul. 03, 2022 USD ($) number_of_restaurants	Jul. 04, 2021 USD ($)	Jan. 02, 2022 USD ($)
Related Party Transaction
Number of Restaurants \| number_of_restaurants	7,040
TimWen \| Franchise Rental Expense
Related Party Transaction
Related Party Transaction, Expenses from Transactions with Related Party	$ 9,601	$ 8,817
TimWen \| General and administrative \| Management Fee Income
Related Party Transaction
Related Party Transaction, Other Income from Transactions with Related Party	111	110
Yellow Cab \| Royalty, Advertising Fund, Lease and Other Income
Related Party Transaction
Related Party Transaction, Other Income from Transactions with Related Party	6,476	$ 4,353
Yellow Cab \| Accounts and notes receivable, net and Advertising funds restricted assets \| Royalty, Advertising Fund, Lease and Other Income
Related Party Transaction
Accounts Receivable, Related Parties, Current	$ 1,046		$ 974
Yellow Cab \| Franchised Units
Related Party Transaction
Number of Restaurants \| number_of_restaurants	82