Quick answer: Wendy’s reported 5,805 restaurants operating in the United States as of March 29, 2026, according to its SEC filing that’s the most recent figure we could directly verify from the company’s own quarterly report. That was down from 5,969 US restaurants at the end of 2025. Wendy’s Q2 2026 filing has been reported elsewhere as showing a further decline to roughly 5,724 by June 28, 2026, continuing a planned reduction announced as part of the company’s “Project Fresh” turnaround. A later third party location database counted 5,683 US locations on August 25, 2026 a good illustration of why the exact “live” count depends on which source and date you’re looking at.
Wendy’s US Restaurant Count, by Reporting Date
| Date | Source | US Restaurants | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec. 28, 2025 | Wendy’s / SEC filing | 5,969 | — |
| Mar. 29, 2026 | Wendy’s / SEC filing (verified) | 5,805 | -164 |
| Jun. 28, 2026 | Wendy’s Q2 2026 filing (as reported) | ~5,724 | -81 |
| Aug. 25, 2026 | ScrapeHero (third party database) | 5,683 | -41 |
The March 29, 2026 figure is directly confirmed from Wendy’s own SEC filing text. The June figure is drawn from third party financial reporting on Wendy’s Q2 filing rather than a quote we independently pulled ourselves, so it’s presented with slightly more caution. Overall: roughly 245-285 fewer US restaurants between year end 2025 and mid 2026, a decline of about 4-5%.
Why Has the Number Been Dropping?
Wendy’s announced a US restaurant closure plan in late 2025 as part of a turnaround effort the company has referred to as “Project Fresh,” following a weaker year of US sales performance. The company indicated it expected to close roughly 5-6% of its US restaurant base during the first half of 2026. The quarter over quarter SEC figures above are broadly consistent with that plan actually playing out.
Company Operated vs. Franchised
As of March 29, 2026 the most recent breakdown we could directly verify Wendy’s US restaurants split as follows:
| Total US restaurants | 5,805 |
| Company operated | 420 (~7.2%) |
| Franchise operated | 5,385 (~92.8%), across 205 franchisees |
The large franchised share is part of why individual Wendy’s restaurants can differ so much in hours, pricing, and even closure timing franchise owners have real operational independence within the brand.
Which States Have the Most Wendy’s Locations?
Two independent snapshots we checked both put the same three states on top, though the exact counts differ slightly by source and date exactly the kind of discrepancy this page is upfront about:
| State | ScrapeHero, Aug. 25, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Florida | 473 (~8% of the US total) |
| Texas | 429 |
| Ohio (Wendy’s home state) | 388 |
For a full, current state by state breakdown, Wendy’s own official location directory is the better source than any third party snapshot we could reproduce here it updates continuously rather than on the dated schedule any database snapshot is stuck with.
Wendy’s Worldwide
| United States | 5,805 |
| International (38 foreign countries and US territories) | 1,446 |
| Worldwide total | 7,251 |
Figures as of March 29, 2026, per Wendy’s SEC filing. Wendy’s describes itself as the second largest quick service chain in the US hamburger segment by traffic and dollar share, and the third largest globally by restaurant count that’s a sales/traffic ranking, not simply a location count claim, and shouldn’t be confused with one.
Why Do Different Sources Show Different Numbers?
A few real reasons, not just sloppy data:
- Different reporting dates. Wendy’s reports its official count at the end of each fiscal quarter; a database snapshot taken between those dates will inevitably differ.
- Ongoing openings and closures. With an active closure plan underway in 2026, the true count is genuinely moving week to week, not just quarter to quarter.
- Different collection methods. Third party location databases scrape or aggregate listings on their own schedule, which can lag behind or occasionally miss recent changes.
None of this means any particular source is “wrong” it means a restaurant count is a snapshot of a moving target, not a fixed fact the way a founding date is.
A Brief History
Wendy’s was founded by Dave Thomas in 1969 in Columbus, Ohio. The company describes itself as the second largest quick service chain in the US hamburger segment based on traffic and dollar share, and the third largest globally by restaurant count.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Wendy’s locations are there in the US in 2026?
Wendy’s reported 5,805 US restaurants as of March 29, 2026, per its SEC filing the most recent figure we directly verified. Later reporting suggests the count continued declining, to roughly 5,724 by June 28, 2026 and 5,683 per a third party database on August 25, 2026.
Why is Wendy’s closing locations in 2026?
Wendy’s announced a US restaurant reduction plan in late 2025 as part of its “Project Fresh” turnaround effort, targeting roughly 5-6% of its US restaurant base following a weaker year of sales.
Which state has the most Wendy’s locations?
Florida, with roughly 470-475 locations depending on the source and date about 8% of the US total. Texas and Ohio typically follow.
Are most Wendy’s restaurants franchised?
Yes. As of March 29, 2026, about 92.8% of US Wendy’s restaurants (5,385 of 5,805) were franchise operated, with the remainder company operated.
How many Wendy’s locations are there worldwide?
Wendy’s reported 7,251 total restaurants as of March 29, 2026 5,805 in the US and 1,446 across 38 foreign countries and US territories.
How can I check if a specific Wendy’s is open?
Use Wendy’s official restaurant locator for the most current status of a specific address restaurant status can change between the quarterly reporting dates used on this page.
Sources & Methodology
This page prioritizes Wendy’s own SEC filings as the primary source for official restaurant counts, company/franchise splits, and worldwide totals. The March 29, 2026 figures were directly confirmed from Wendy’s 10-Q filing text. The June 28, 2026 figure is drawn from third party financial reporting on Wendy’s Q2 filing rather than a passage we personally verified, so we’ve flagged it as slightly less certain. State level and August 2026 figures come from ScrapeHero, an independent location data provider, used here only as a dated comparison snapshot, not as an official Wendy’s figure. Wendy’s own restaurant locator is the best source for a specific location’s current status.
Related Wendy’s Pages
| Wendy’s Hours |
| Wendy’s Biggie Deals: $4, $6 & $8 Value Menu |
| Complete Wendy’s Menu & Prices |
Disclaimer: WendysMenu-Prices.online is an independent informational website and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or officially connected with The Wendy’s Company or Wendy’s International LLC. Location counts change frequently due to openings and closures. For official, current information, please check Wendy’s SEC filings or its official restaurant locator.