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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.
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📊 Data Sources
Costs from Healthcare Bluebook and FAIR Health. Recovery from AAOS guidelines. Updated March 2026.