Revenue Disaggregation of Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jul. 02, 2023	Jul. 03, 2022	Jul. 02, 2023	Jul. 03, 2022
Disaggregation of Revenue
Franchise rental income	$ 58,033	$ 58,610	$ 115,840	$ 116,481
Total revenues	561,565	537,783	1,090,372	1,026,426
Sales at Company-operated restaurants
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	240,688	230,869	468,637	440,144
Franchise royalty revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	132,128	125,013	254,278	236,758
Franchise fees
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	20,920	18,423	40,447	35,654
Advertising funds revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	109,796	104,868	211,170	197,389
Wendy's U.S.
Disaggregation of Revenue
Franchise rental income	0	0	0	0
Total revenues	468,753	450,440	909,741	857,751
Wendy's U.S. | Sales at Company-operated restaurants
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	234,862	227,903	457,494	434,404
Wendy's U.S. | Franchise royalty revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	114,921	108,872	221,260	206,792
Wendy's U.S. | Franchise fees
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	17,461	15,986	34,733	31,391
Wendy's U.S. | Advertising funds revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	101,509	97,679	196,254	185,164
Wendy's International
Disaggregation of Revenue
Franchise rental income	0	0	0	0
Total revenues	32,715	27,463	61,995	50,369
Wendy's International | Sales at Company-operated restaurants
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	5,826	2,966	11,143	5,740
Wendy's International | Franchise royalty revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	17,207	16,141	33,018	29,966
Wendy's International | Franchise fees
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	1,395	1,167	2,918	2,438
Wendy's International | Advertising funds revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	8,287	7,189	14,916	12,225
Global Real Estate & Development
Disaggregation of Revenue
Franchise rental income	58,033	58,610	115,840	116,481
Total revenues	60,097	59,880	118,636	118,306
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	2,064	1,270	2,796	1,825
Global Real Estate & Development | Advertising funds revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0