Amount of currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. Includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits. Excludes cash and cash equivalents within disposal group and discontinued operation.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 605
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 55
-Paragraph 14
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477548/944-605-55-14

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 605
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 55
-Paragraph 11
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477548/944-605-55-11

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 852
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 55
-Paragraph 10
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481372/852-10-55-10

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 830
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 55
-Paragraph 12
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147479168/946-830-55-12

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(a)(2))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478777/944-210-S99-1

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 210
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.6-04(4))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147479170/946-210-S99-1

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 210
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 21
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477796/946-210-45-21

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(1))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480566/210-10-S99-1

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 20
-SubTopic 210
-Topic 946
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477796/946-210-45-20

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of cash and cash equivalent. Cash includes, but is not limited to, currency on hand, demand deposit with financial institution, and account with general characteristic of demand deposit. Cash equivalent includes, but is not limited to, short-term, highly liquid investment that is both readily convertible to known amount of cash and so near maturity that it presents insignificant risk of change in value because of change in interest rate.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(1))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480566/210-10-S99-1

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147483467/210-10-45-1

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 4
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482740/230-10-45-4

+ Details

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

- 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_CashAndCashEquivalentsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of cash and cash equivalent, and cash and cash equivalent restricted to withdrawal or usage; attributable to continuing operation. Cash includes, but is not limited to, currency on hand, demand deposit with financial institution, and account with general characteristic of demand deposit. Cash equivalent includes, but is not limited to, short-term, highly liquid investment that is both readily convertible to known amount of cash and so near maturity that it presents insignificant risk of change in value because of change in interest rate.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 8
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482913/230-10-50-8

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 24
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482740/230-10-45-24

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 4
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482740/230-10-45-4

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Excludes cash and cash equivalents within disposal group and discontinued operation.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(a)(2))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478777/944-210-S99-1

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(1))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480566/210-10-S99-1

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of cash and cash equivalent restricted as to withdrawal or usage, classified as current. Cash includes, but is not limited to, currency on hand, demand deposit with financial institution, and account with general characteristic of demand deposit. Cash equivalent includes, but is not limited to, short-term, highly liquid investment that is both readily convertible to known amount of cash and so near maturity that it presents insignificant risk of change in value because of change in interest rate.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(1))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480566/210-10-S99-1

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 8
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482913/230-10-50-8

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 4
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482740/230-10-45-4

+ Details

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

- Definition

Total restricted cash and cash equivalents, current

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis=wen_AccountsHeldByTrusteeForTheSecuritizedFinancingFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis=wen_OtherRestrictedCashEquivalentsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis=wen_RestrictedCashMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis=wen_AdvertisingFundsRestrictedAssetsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Cash and Receivables Cash and Cash Equivalents (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 28, 2025	Dec. 29, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023	Jan. 01, 2023
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash	$ 90,226	$ 131,300
Cash equivalents	210,607	319,212
Cash and cash equivalents	300,833	450,512	$ 516,037
Restricted cash and cash equivalents, current	39,207	34,481	35,848
Total restricted cash and cash equivalents, current	56,839	53,096
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	357,672	503,608	$ 588,816	$ 831,801
Accounts held by trustee for the securitized financing facility
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Restricted cash and cash equivalents, current	38,800	34,089
Other
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Restricted cash and cash equivalents, current	407	392
Restricted Cash
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Restricted cash and cash equivalents, current	39,207	34,481
Advertising funds restricted assets
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Restricted cash and cash equivalents, current	$ 17,632	$ 18,615