Objective: To investigate the selection of timing for laparoscopic cholecystectomy in patients with acute biliary pancreatitis (ABP). Methods: Ninety-six ABP patients admitted during March 2014 to January 2017 were enrolled. Of the patients, 47 cases underwent conservative treatment before laparoscopic cholecystectomy and common bile duct exploration (observation group), and 49 cases were subjected to laparoscopic cholecystectomy and common bile duct exploration directly (control group). The main clinical variables between the two groups of patients were compared. Results: In observation group compared with control group, the number of cases requiring postoperative analgesics (19 cases vs. 9 cases), average operative time (1.9 h vs.1.6 h), average time to postoperative recovery of peristalsis (2.6 d vs.1.9 d), number of cases with postoperative wound infection (7 cases vs.1 case), number of cases requiring open conversion (6 cases vs.1 case), average volume of postoperative drainage (56.9 mL vs. 32.4 mL), and average length of postoperative hospital stay (6.2 d vs. 4.5 d) were reduced and overall treatment effective rate (81.6% vs. 95.7%) was increased significantly (all P<0.05). Follow-up was conducted for 9 to 39 months, and repeated ABP was noted. Conclusion: For ABP, administering conservative treatment first until pancreatitis subsides prior to laparoscopic cholecystectomy is safe and feasible, and it is recommended to be used in clinical practice.