The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical outcomes of laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer within a learning period. A total of 86 consecutive patients who underwent laparoscopic resection for colorectal cancer between January 2010 and December 2011 were investigated retrospectively. The patients were sorted into the early and late group; 43 patients were included in each group. Patient’s clinicopathologic features, perioperative outcomes, morbidity, and mortality were evaluated. The two groups showed similar operative results in terms of operation time, conversion rate to open surgery (16% vs 7%, p=0.313), and the rate of postoperative complication (34.9% vs 37.2%, p=0.313). The most serious complication, anastomotic leak, developed in five and four patients in the early and late group, respectively. Hemoglobin change, which means blood loss indirectly was lower in late phase and was statistically significant (2.3g/dL vs. 1.7g/dL, p=0.007). No difference in TNM stage and number of retrieved lymph nodes (19.2±11.9 vs 18.7±12.7, p=0.847) was observed between the two groups. Laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer can be performed safely and effectively even during a learning period, if the operation is performed carefully.