Reorganization and Realignment Costs G&A Realignment - May 2017 Plan (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2018	Oct. 01, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Oct. 01, 2017
Restructuring Cost and Reserve
Restructuring Charges	$ 941	$ 2,888	$ 6,691	$ 20,768
G&A Realignment – May 2017 Plan
Restructuring Cost and Reserve
Restructuring and Related Cost, Expected Cost Remaining	4,500		4,500
Restructuring and Related Cost, Incurred Cost	296	1,851	4,847	15,402
Restructuring and Related Cost, Cost Incurred to Date	21,383		21,383
Restructuring Charges	629	2,656	6,375	19,901
Restructuring Charges, Cost Incurred to Date	28,038		28,038
G&A Realignment – May 2017 Plan \| Severance and related employee costs
Restructuring Cost and Reserve
Restructuring and Related Cost, Expected Cost Remaining	1,000		1,000
Restructuring and Related Cost, Incurred Cost	57	1,210	3,168	14,436
Restructuring and Related Cost, Cost Incurred to Date	18,124		18,124
G&A Realignment – May 2017 Plan \| Recruitment and relocation costs
Restructuring Cost and Reserve
Restructuring and Related Cost, Expected Cost Remaining	2,000		2,000
Restructuring and Related Cost, Incurred Cost	200	145	708	145
Restructuring and Related Cost, Cost Incurred to Date	1,197		1,197
G&A Realignment – May 2017 Plan \| Third-party and other costs
Restructuring Cost and Reserve
Restructuring and Related Cost, Expected Cost Remaining	500		500
Restructuring and Related Cost, Incurred Cost	39	496	971	821
Restructuring and Related Cost, Cost Incurred to Date	2,062		2,062
G&A Realignment – May 2017 Plan \| Share based compensation
Restructuring Cost and Reserve
Restructuring and Related Cost, Expected Cost Remaining	1,000		1,000
Restructuring and Related Cost, Incurred Cost	333	$ 805	1,528	$ 4,499
Restructuring and Related Cost, Cost Incurred to Date	6,655		6,655
G&A Realignment – May 2017 Plan \| Minimum
Restructuring Cost and Reserve
Restructuring and Related Cost, Expected Cost	30,000		30,000
G&A Realignment – May 2017 Plan \| Maximum
Restructuring Cost and Reserve
Restructuring and Related Cost, Expected Cost	$ 33,000		$ 33,000

Amount of costs incurred to date for the specified restructuring cost.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 420
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394359&loc=d3e17939-110869

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 420
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SAB Topic 5.P.4(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27011515&loc=d3e140904-122747

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount expected to be recognized in earnings for the specified restructuring cost.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostExpectedCost1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of expected cost remaining for the specified restructuring cost.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostExpectedCostRemaining1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Discloses the amount charged against the accrued restructuring reserves, or earnings if not previously accrued, during the period for the specified type of restructuring cost.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of expenses associated with exit or disposal activities pursuant to an authorized plan. Excludes expenses related to a discontinued operation or an asset retirement obligation.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 420
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SAB Topic 5.P.3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27011515&loc=d3e140864-122747

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 420
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394359&loc=d3e17939-110869

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 420
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SAB Topic 5.P.4(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27011515&loc=d3e140904-122747

+ Details

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

- Definition

Restructuring Charges, Incurred to Date

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wen_RestructuringChargesIncurredtoDate
Namespace Prefix:	wen_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RestructuringPlanAxis=wen_GARealignmentMay2017PlanMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis=us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis=us-gaap_EmployeeRelocationMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis=us-gaap_OtherRestructuringMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis=wen_ShareBasedCompensationExpenseMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: