How fast a plume can stitch two cratonic nuclei into a stable one remains under-investigated. The Tarim continental block in central Asia is recratonized by a Permian-aged plume and preserves a complete record before, during, and after the plume-driven recratonization. Here we conduct area-depth analysis on seismic reflection data from the central Tarim Basin to date the Phanerozoic deformation. All thrusts and strike-slip faults investigated underwent an early deformation stage (Earliest Ordovician-Middle Devonian), a hiatus stage (Late Devonian-Late Permian), and a newly-discovered deformation stage throughout the Mesozoic. Both deformation stages within Tarim are driven by the subduction and accretion surrounding the block. The Mesozoic finite strains highlight the continuous adjustment as the plume-welded continental lithosphere heals and strengthens. The Tarim plume-driven recratonization concludes not immediately, but ~200 Myr after the plume activity ceased, establishing a characteristic timescale for such events in Earth’s history.