What is known and objective Postoperative pain relief is a critical issue for hip arthroscopy surgery (HAS). This study aimed to investigate the effect of preemptive non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for postoperative analgesia in femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) patients receiving HAS. Methods This multicenter, randomized, controlled study enrolled 204 FAI patients receiving HAS, then assigned them to preoperative (PRE, N = 103) or postoperative (POS, N = 101) group as a 1:1 ratio; the PRE group administrated NSAIDs from 24 h pre‐surgery to day 7 (D7) post‐surgery, while the POS group administrated NSAIDs from 12 h post‐surgery to D7 post‐surgery. Results and discussion Pain at rest was reduced at D1 (p = 0.016) and D2 (p = 0.023); pain at movement was decreased at D1 (p = 0.002), D2 (p = 0.020), and D3 (p = 0.030) in the PRE group compared with POS group, but not at other time points (all p > 0.05). Patient's satisfaction was increased at D1 (p = 0.013) and D3 (p = 0.029) in the PRE group compared to the POS group, but not at D7 (p = 0.145). Pethidine was less consumed at D3 (p = 0.038) and D7 (p = 0.017) in the PRE group in contrast with the POS group. Harris hip scores were similar at D7 (p = 0.124), month 1 (M1) (p = 0.273), and M3 (p = 0.360) between groups. Adverse events incidence was similar between groups (all p > 0.05). Besides, subgroup analysis discovered that pain was not influenced by the types of NSAID in both groups (all p > 0.05). What is new and conclusion Starting NSAIDs before HAS provides better short‐term pain relief and improves patient's satisfaction compared with its postoperative utilization, while does not induce additional adverse events in FAI patients. This study aimed to investigate the effect of pre‐emptive non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for postoperative analgesia in femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) patients receiving hip arthroscopy surgery (HAS). Totally, 204 FAI patients were enrolled, then randomly assigned to preoperative (PRE, N = 103) or postoperative (POS, N = 101) groups as a 1:1 ratio; the PRE group administrated NSAIDs from 24 h pre‐surgery to day 7 (D7) post‐surgery, while the POS group administrated NSAIDs from 12 h post‐surgery to D7 post‐surgery. Compared to POS group, pain at rest was reduced at D1 and D2; pain at movement was decreased at D1, D2, and D3; patient's satisfaction was increased at D1 and D3; pethidine was less consumed at D3 and D7 in the PRE group. Harris hip scores and adverse events incidence were similar between groups. Conclusively, starting NSAIDs before HAS provides better short‐term pain relief and improves patient's satisfaction compared with its postoperative utilization, while does not induce additional adverse events in FAI patients.