Document and Entity Information - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2015	Oct. 29, 2015
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	WENDY'S CO
Entity Central Index Key	0000030697
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--01-03
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Sep. 27, 2015
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2015
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		273,479,452