Revenue Disaggregation of Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2024	Jul. 02, 2023	Jun. 30, 2024	Jul. 02, 2023
Disaggregation of Revenue
Total revenues	$ 570,727	$ 561,565	$ 1,105,480	$ 1,090,372
Sales at Company-operated restaurants
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	237,355	240,688	462,678	468,637
Franchise royalty revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	136,318	132,128	261,998	254,278
Franchise fees
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	21,352	20,920	42,172	40,447
Franchise rental income
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	60,638	58,033	118,624	115,840
Advertising funds revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	115,064	109,796	220,008	211,170
Wendy's U.S.
Disaggregation of Revenue
Total revenues	472,591	468,753	915,438	909,741
Wendy's U.S. | Sales at Company-operated restaurants
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	231,151	234,862	450,619	457,494
Wendy's U.S. | Franchise royalty revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	117,997	114,921	226,850	221,260
Wendy's U.S. | Franchise fees
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	17,826	17,461	35,652	34,733
Wendy's U.S. | Franchise rental income
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	0	0	0	0
Wendy's U.S. | Advertising funds revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	105,617	101,509	202,317	196,254
Wendy's International
Disaggregation of Revenue
Total revenues	36,361	32,715	69,176	61,995
Wendy's International | Sales at Company-operated restaurants
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	6,204	5,826	12,059	11,143
Wendy's International | Franchise royalty revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	18,321	17,207	35,148	33,018
Wendy's International | Franchise fees
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	2,389	1,395	4,278	2,918
Wendy's International | Franchise rental income
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	0	0	0	0
Wendy's International | Advertising funds revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	9,447	8,287	17,691	14,916
Global Real Estate & Development
Disaggregation of Revenue
Total revenues	61,775	60,097	120,866	118,636
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	1,137	2,064	2,242	2,796
Global Real Estate & Development | Franchise rental income
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	60,638	58,033	118,624	115,840
Global Real Estate & Development | Advertising funds revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0