When would you use OPTION (RECOMPILE)?

Published on 17 Sep 2026 1 min read MS SQL

SQL Performance and Execution Plans

When would you use `OPTION (RECOMPILE)`?

Use OPTION (RECOMPILE) when one cached execution plan is unsuitable for different parameter values.

It tells SQL Server to create a new execution plan for the current execution and discard it afterward.

SELECT *
FROM Orders
WHERE CustomerId = @CustomerId
OPTION (RECOMPILE);

Suitable situations

Parameter values return very different numbers of rows.
Data distribution is highly uneven.
Optional search filters create different query patterns.
A query runs infrequently but requires the best plan each time.
A cached plan causes a confirmed parameter-sniffing problem.

Avoid or use carefully when

The query executes very frequently.
Compilation is complex or CPU-intensive.
One reusable plan already performs well for most values.

Important difference

-- Recompiles only this statement
OPTION (RECOMPILE);

-- Recompiles the entire procedure
WITH RECOMPILE;

Key point

OPTION (RECOMPILE) can improve execution performance but adds compilation CPU cost. Use it for specific, proven plan-reuse problems—not as a default solution.

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