Disaggregation of Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Jan. 01, 2023	Jan. 02, 2022
Disaggregation of Revenue
Franchise agreement term	20 years
Franchise agreement renewal term	10 years
Franchise agreement extension term	25 years
Franchise agreement renewal term extension	20 years
Total revenues	$ 2,181,578	$ 2,095,505	$ 1,896,998
Minimum
Disaggregation of Revenue
Lessor, Operating Lease, Term of Contract	15 years
Maximum
Disaggregation of Revenue
Lessor, Operating Lease, Term of Contract	20 years
Sales at Company-operated restaurants
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	$ 930,083	896,585	734,074
Franchise royalty revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	512,159	485,488	460,709
Franchise fees
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	80,172	72,747	76,039
Franchise Rental Income
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	230,168	234,465	236,655
Advertising funds revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	428,996	406,220	389,521
Wendy's U.S.
Disaggregation of Revenue
Total revenues	1,815,845	1,750,242	1,567,496
Wendy's U.S. | Sales at Company-operated restaurants
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	905,700	882,684	730,415
Wendy's U.S. | Franchise royalty revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	444,653	423,955	407,317
Wendy's U.S. | Franchise fees
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	68,749	63,112	64,170
Wendy's U.S. | Franchise Rental Income
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	0	0	0
Wendy's U.S. | Advertising funds revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	396,743	380,491	365,594
Wendy's International
Disaggregation of Revenue
Total revenues	130,548	106,705	86,369
Wendy's International | Sales at Company-operated restaurants
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	24,383	13,901	3,659
Wendy's International | Franchise royalty revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	67,506	61,533	53,392
Wendy's International | Franchise fees
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	6,406	5,542	5,391
Wendy's International | Franchise Rental Income
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	0	0	0
Wendy's International | Advertising funds revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	32,253	25,729	23,927
Global Real Estate & Development
Disaggregation of Revenue
Total revenues	235,185	238,558	243,133
Global Real Estate & Development | Sales at Company-operated restaurants
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	0	0	0
Global Real Estate & Development | Franchise royalty revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	0	0	0
Global Real Estate & Development | Franchise fees
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	5,017	4,093	6,478
Global Real Estate & Development | Franchise Rental Income
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	230,168	234,465	236,655
Global Real Estate & Development | Advertising funds revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0