Revenue Disaggregation of Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 28, 2026	Jun. 29, 2025	Jun. 28, 2026	Jun. 29, 2025
Disaggregation of Revenue
Total revenues	$ 570,571	$ 560,929	$ 1,111,208	$ 1,084,401
Sales at Company-operated restaurants
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	240,016	232,853	465,513	452,363
Franchise royalty revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	123,574	132,233	239,764	253,908
Franchise fees
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	26,197	24,067	57,902	47,540
Franchise rental income
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	53,363	60,411	112,267	118,865
Advertising funds revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	127,421	111,365	235,762	211,725
Wendy's U.S. \| Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue
Total revenues	477,597	461,142	921,756	890,756
Wendy's U.S. \| Sales at Company-operated restaurants
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	234,007	225,973	453,302	438,717
Wendy's U.S. \| Franchise royalty revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	103,749	112,842	201,057	217,248
Wendy's U.S. \| Franchise fees
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	22,126	20,972	50,409	41,676
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	117,715	101,355	216,988	193,115
Wendy's International \| Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue
Total revenues	39,266	38,850	76,193	73,571
Wendy's International \| Sales at Company-operated restaurants
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	6,009	6,880	12,211	13,646
Wendy's International \| Franchise royalty revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	19,825	19,391	38,707	36,660
Wendy's International \| Franchise fees
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	3,726	2,569	6,501	4,655
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	9,706	10,010	18,774	18,610
Global Real Estate & Development \| Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue
Total revenues	53,708	60,937	113,259	120,074
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	345	526	992	1,209
Global Real Estate & Development \| Franchise rental income
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	53,363	60,411	112,267	118,865
Global Real Estate & Development \| Advertising funds revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0