Purpose: Early laparoscopic cholecystectomy (ELC) is the treatment of choice for acute cholecystitis (AC), but the optimal surgical timing is controversial. The aim of this study was to retrospectively verify the outcome of patients with AC according to different timing of cholecystectomy. Methods: Patients undergoing cholecystectomy for AC from 2006 to 2012 were stratified into two groups: initial admission cholecystectomy (IAC) and delayed cholecystectomy (DC, after at least 4 weeks). Among IAC, a subgroup undergoing immediate cholecystectomy (IC, within 72 h of symptom onset) was further analyzed. Results: Three-hundred and sixteen consecutive patients were studied. IAC group included 262 patients (82.9 %) and DC group included 54 patients (17.1 %). The two groups were similar in conversion rate, operation length, and overall complication rate. The total length of hospitalization was longer in DC patients (p = 0.005). Among DC patients, 25.9 % required re-hospitalization while waiting an elective procedure. In the group undergoing IC (66 patients), conversion rate, length of operation, and postoperative morbidity were similar to that of the IAC group. Length of stay was shorter in IC group (p