BACKGROUND Early recurrence is a major problem after hepatic resection of colorectal hepatic metastasis (CHM). Our aim was to investigate the relationship between time to recurrence after CHM resection and overall survival. METHODS A retrospective analysis was performed for 101 consecutive patients who underwent hepatic resection for CHM and have been followed more than 5 years. RESULTS Among 101 patients, 82 (81%) had a recurrence. Overall survival of patients with recurrence within 6 months after CHM resection was significantly worse than that of patients with recurrence after more than 6 months (P < 0.01). Overall survival was poorer when time to recurrence was shorter. One of the reasons for poor prognosis of patients with recurrence within 6 months was that only a few patients could undergo a second resection for recurrence after CHM resection. Histological type, including poorly differentiated signet ring cell or mucinous adenocarcinoma in the primary tumor, bilobar metastases, microscopic positive surgical margin and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) above 15 ng/ml had predictive value for decreased recurrence-free survival after CHM resection. CONCLUSIONS Short time to recurrence after CHM resection correlates with a poor prognosis. Histological type of poorly differentiated signet ring cell or mucinous adenocarcinoma in the primary tumor might be a predictor for early recurrence after CHM resection.