How Long Does It Take to Pass a Kidney Stone?

Kidney stones can be quite painful and debilitating, and can cause one to have several questions.

Can a kidney stone take weeks to pass? How many days does it take to pass kidney stones? In this post, we’ll review what you need to know.

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What Are Kidney Stones?

Before we review how long a kidney stone can take to pass, let’s go over details about kidney stones. Kidney stones are solid deposits of minerals that develop in the kidneys or urinary tract. After forming, they must travel from the kidneys to the bladder, passing through the narrow ureters. This tight passage often triggers intense cramping and sharp, shooting pain. Kidney stones are the leading cause of blood in the urine, and nearly all larger stones bring severe discomfort in the back, abdomen, or groin.

But how long should it take to pass a kidney stone? We’ll go over how long to pass kidney stones once in the bladder and the overall kidney stone route in the next section.

Kidney Stone in Bladder: How Long to Pass

You may wonder how long it takes to pass a kidney stone. The size of the stone largely determines the outcome.

• Smaller than 4 mm. About 80% of these stones pass on their own, usually within 31 days.
• 4–6 mm. Roughly 60% of stones this size pass naturally, though it can take up to 45 days, and some may require treatment.
• Larger than 6 mm. Only about 20% pass without intervention, often taking 60 days or more. Most large stones require medical removal.

Now that we know more about the kidney stone timeline, let’s review the time the pain should last.

How Long Does the Pain of Kidney Stones Last?

Now that we know more about the time for kidney stones to pass, let’s discuss more about the pain. Sharp, cramping pain in the back, abdomen, or groin that doesn’t improve with movement may signal a stone lodged in the ureter. Pain can come in waves, last from 20 minutes to over an hour, and sometimes persist for weeks until the stone passes. Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or naproxen can help, and doctors may prescribe alpha blockers to relax the ureter and ease passage.

How Do You Prevent Kidney Stones?

Knowing how long a kidney stone should take to pass will not necessarily prevent kidney stones, though. The National Kidney Foundation offers up six easy ways to prevent kidney stones, which we will briefly summarize below:

• Don’t underestimate your sweat. Activities like saunas, hot yoga, or heavy exercise can lead to dehydration and more concentrated urine. Stay well hydrated, especially when you’re sweating a lot.
• Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables — Oxalate isn’t the enemy. Including plenty of plant foods— even those with oxalate — can help lower your risk of stones through beneficial minerals, fiber, and dietary patterns like the DASH or Mediterranean diet.
• Do NOT cut out calcium. Reducing calcium intake can increase your risk of stones — so aim to get enough calcium from food sources, especially with meals, to help bind oxalate in the gut.
• It’s not one and done. Once you’ve had a kidney stone, you’re at higher risk for another — so prevention should be ongoing and proactive.
• When life hands you kidney stones… Incorporating lemon juice, which is rich in citrate, can help prevent stones by increasing urinary citrate levels, which inhibit stone formation.
• Not all stones are created equal. Because stones form for different reasons and come in various types, prevention works best when tailored to your individual risk factors and consulted with a health care provider.

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