How long does a broken bone take to heal?
Last updated September 3, 2026.
MedlinePlus puts healing at 8 to 12 weeks for a typical break - set by your age, the bone, the type of break, and your health. Children heal faster than adults, small bones faster than large. The cast bridges the break, the x-ray confirms it, and full strength trails weeks behind the x-ray - which is what follow-ups and physical therapy are for. Smoking measurably slows bone healing; early weight-bearing risks a crooked heal.
What to do
- Follow weight-bearing orders exactly. Early loading shifts breaks and restarts the clock.
- Do not smoke. It slows bone healing measurably.
- Feed the repair. Protein, calcium, and vitamin D are the raw materials.
- Do the rehab. Strength and range of motion come back through the exercises, not the waiting.
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