Revenue Disaggregation of Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Oct. 01, 2023	Oct. 02, 2022	Oct. 01, 2023	Oct. 02, 2022
Disaggregation of Revenue
Franchise rental income	$ 57,567	$ 58,463	$ 173,407	$ 174,944
Total revenues	550,555	532,569	1,640,927	1,558,995
Sales at Company-operated restaurants
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	234,721	228,786	703,358	668,930
Franchise royalty revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	130,088	124,557	384,366	361,315
Franchise fees
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	19,257	17,176	59,704	52,830
Advertising funds revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	108,922	103,587	320,092	300,976
Wendy's U.S.
Disaggregation of Revenue
Franchise rental income	0	0	0	0
Total revenues	457,240	445,934	1,366,981	1,303,685
Wendy's U.S. | Sales at Company-operated restaurants
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	227,674	225,245	685,168	659,649
Wendy's U.S. | Franchise royalty revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	112,698	108,780	333,958	315,572
Wendy's U.S. | Franchise fees
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	17,079	15,294	51,812	46,685
Wendy's U.S. | Advertising funds revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	99,789	96,615	296,043	281,779
Wendy's International
Disaggregation of Revenue
Franchise rental income	0	0	0	0
Total revenues	35,167	27,547	97,162	77,916
Wendy's International | Sales at Company-operated restaurants
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	7,047	3,541	18,190	9,281
Wendy's International | Franchise royalty revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	17,390	15,777	50,408	45,743
Wendy's International | Franchise fees
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	1,597	1,257	4,515	3,695
Wendy's International | Advertising funds revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	9,133	6,972	24,049	19,197
Global Real Estate & Development
Disaggregation of Revenue
Franchise rental income	57,567	58,463	173,407	174,944
Total revenues	58,148	59,088	176,784	177,394
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	581	625	3,377	2,450
Global Real Estate & Development | Advertising funds revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0