A torn ACL usually takes many months to heal and fully recover function. The exact time depends on whether you have surgery, how severe the tear is, and how hard you work in rehab.
Typical healing timelines
Most people with an ACL tear need about 3 to 12 months to recover enough to return to normal activities, with athletes often on the longer end of that range. Minor or partial tears that are treated without surgery may improve in roughly 3 to 6 months with structured physical therapy, but the knee can remain somewhat unstable in some people.
With ACL surgery
After ACL reconstruction surgery, it usually takes at least 9 months before returning to cutting and pivoting sports, and 9 to 12 months is common. Walking for everyday activities may feel fairly normal after about 4 to 6 weeks, but strength, balance, and ligament graft healing continue for many months after that.
Without surgery
For a partial tear managed non‑surgically, recovery is often in the 3 to 6 month range if you follow a good rehab program and avoid high‑risk movements. A complete tear treated without surgery can take 6 months to over a year to reach a stable, functional knee, and some people never regain full stability for sports without reconstruction.
Key factors that change healing time
Healing time varies with factors like age, overall fitness, severity of the tear, associated injuries (like meniscus damage), and consistency with physical therapy. Returning to sports is usually based on strength, balance, and movement tests rather than just time, because going back too early greatly increases the risk of retearing the ACL.
If you say whether you had surgery and what activities you want to get back to (e.g., running vs. football/basketball), a more tailored time estimate is possible.
