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ACL Surgery Cost: What You'll Pay (2026)

ACL reconstruction: $20,000–$50,000 total. With insurance: $1,500–$8,000 out of pocket. Enter your insurance details for a personalized estimate.

Updated Mar 2026Health$1.5K–$8K with insurance
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ACL Surgery Cost Breakdown

ComponentCost RangeNotes
Surgeon fee$5,000–$10,000Varies by experience
Facility fee$10,000–$25,000Outpatient centers 40–60% less
Anesthesia$1,500–$3,000Usually separate bill
MRI$500–$3,000Pre-surgery diagnosis
PT (6 months)$5,000–$10,000Critical for recovery
Total$20,000–$50,000Without insurance
With insurance$1,500–$8,000Out of pocket
How Costs Compare
11%
23%
11%
46%
Surgeon fee 11%
Facility fee 23%
Anesthesia 3%
MRI 3%
PT (6 months) 11%
Total 46%
With insurance 3%

Recovery Timeline

TimeMilestoneActivity
Week 1–2Crutches, pain managementRest, gentle bending
Week 3–6Begin PT, range of motionStationary bike
Month 2–3Strength buildingSwimming, elliptical
Month 4–6Sport-specific trainingJogging, agility
Month 9–12Full clearanceReturn to sport

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does ACL surgery cost with insurance?▼
$1,500–$8,000 out of pocket. Most people hit their OOP max. With $2K deductible/20% coinsurance/$6K max, expect $4K–$6K including PT co-pays.
Is ACL surgery worth it?▼
For active people, yes — 90–95% success rate. Unreconstructed ACLs lead to instability and early arthritis. Exception: sedentary older patients with partial tears may do well with PT alone.
How long is recovery?▼
9–12 months full recovery. Crutches 2–4 weeks, normal walking 6–8 weeks, jogging 4–5 months, sports 9–12 months. PT is critical.
Autograft vs allograft?▼
Autograft has lower re-tear rate (3–5% vs 6–10%), preferred for young athletes. Allograft has less pain and faster early recovery, better for older patients.
Related Calculators
📊 Data Sources
Costs from Healthcare Bluebook and FAIR Health. Recovery from AAOS guidelines. Updated March 2026.