Revenue Disaggregation of Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2024	Apr. 02, 2023
Disaggregation of Revenue
Total revenues	$ 534,753	$ 528,807
Sales at Company-operated restaurants
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	225,323	227,949
Franchise royalty revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	125,680	122,150
Franchise fees
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	20,820	19,527
Franchise rental income
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	57,986	57,807
Advertising funds revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	104,944	101,374
Wendy's U.S.
Disaggregation of Revenue
Total revenues	442,847	440,988
Wendy's U.S. | Sales at Company-operated restaurants
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	219,468	222,632
Wendy's U.S. | Franchise royalty revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	108,853	106,339
Wendy's U.S. | Franchise fees
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	17,826	17,272
Wendy's U.S. | Franchise rental income
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	0	0
Wendy's U.S. | Advertising funds revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	96,700	94,745
Wendy's International
Disaggregation of Revenue
Total revenues	32,815	29,280
Wendy's International | Sales at Company-operated restaurants
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	5,855	5,317
Wendy's International | Franchise royalty revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	16,827	15,811
Wendy's International | Franchise fees
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	1,889	1,523
Wendy's International | Franchise rental income
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	0	0
Wendy's International | Advertising funds revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	8,244	6,629
Global Real Estate & Development
Disaggregation of Revenue
Total revenues	59,091	58,539
Global Real Estate & Development | Sales at Company-operated restaurants
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	0	0
Global Real Estate & Development | Franchise royalty revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	0	0
Global Real Estate & Development | Franchise fees
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	1,105	732
Global Real Estate & Development | Franchise rental income
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	57,986	57,807
Global Real Estate & Development | Advertising funds revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	$ 0	$ 0