Han Solo was frozen in carbonite for roughly one year. This period spans from the end of The Empire Strikes Back (3 ABY) to the beginning of Return of the Jedi (4 ABY), according to the official Star Wars film timeline
. While some earlier sources like the 1983 novelization of Return of the Jedi suggested about six months, the current canon and expanded media support the one-year timeframe
. During this time, Han was in a state of suspended animation, which in- universe can cause "hibernation sickness" upon thawing, including symptoms like sensory overload, dehydration, weakness, and memory loss, all of which Han experienced
. There is also evidence from cut scenes and expanded materials that Han was semi-conscious or in extreme pain while frozen, rather than completely unconscious
. In summary, Han Solo was encased in carbonite for about one year, from his freezing on Cloud City to his rescue at Jabba the Hutt's palace on Tatooine
