Revenue Disaggregation of Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2024	Oct. 01, 2023	Sep. 29, 2024	Oct. 01, 2023
Disaggregation of Revenue
Total revenues	$ 566,739	$ 550,555	$ 1,672,219	$ 1,640,927
Sales at Company-operated restaurants
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	230,403	234,721	693,081	703,358
Franchise royalty revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	132,601	130,088	394,599	384,366
Franchise fees
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	21,267	19,257	63,439	59,704
Franchise rental income
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	59,314	57,567	177,938	173,407
Advertising funds revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	123,154	108,922	343,162	320,092
Wendy's U.S.
Disaggregation of Revenue
Total revenues	468,725	457,240	1,384,163	1,366,981
Wendy's U.S. | Sales at Company-operated restaurants
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	222,745	227,674	673,364	685,168
Wendy's U.S. | Franchise royalty revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	114,379	112,698	341,229	333,958
Wendy's U.S. | Franchise fees
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	17,859	17,079	53,511	51,812
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	113,742	99,789	316,059	296,043
Wendy's International
Disaggregation of Revenue
Total revenues	37,598	35,167	106,774	97,162
Wendy's International | Sales at Company-operated restaurants
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	7,658	7,047	19,717	18,190
Wendy's International | Franchise royalty revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	18,222	17,390	53,370	50,408
Wendy's International | Franchise fees
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	2,306	1,597	6,584	4,515
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	9,412	9,133	27,103	24,049
Global Real Estate & Development
Disaggregation of Revenue
Total revenues	60,416	58,148	181,282	176,784
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	1,102	581	3,344	3,377
Global Real Estate & Development | Franchise rental income
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	59,314	57,567	177,938	173,407
Global Real Estate & Development | Advertising funds revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0