diff --git a/src/lerobot/scripts/lerobot_edit_dataset.py b/src/lerobot/scripts/lerobot_edit_dataset.py
index 0cfb34325..a708d37a3 100644
--- a/src/lerobot/scripts/lerobot_edit_dataset.py
+++ b/src/lerobot/scripts/lerobot_edit_dataset.py
@@ -150,11 +150,24 @@ Show dataset information without feature details:
         --operation.type info \
         --operation.show_features false
 
-Recompute dataset statistics:
+Recompute dataset statistics (saves to lerobot/pusht_recomputed_stats by default):
     lerobot-edit-dataset \
         --repo_id lerobot/pusht \
         --operation.type recompute_stats
 
+Recompute stats and save to a specific new repo_id:
+    lerobot-edit-dataset \
+        --repo_id lerobot/pusht \
+        --new_repo_id lerobot/pusht_new_stats \
+        --operation.type recompute_stats
+
+Recompute stats in-place (overwrites original dataset stats):
+    lerobot-edit-dataset \
+        --repo_id lerobot/pusht \
+        --new_repo_id lerobot/pusht \
+        --operation.type recompute_stats \
+        --operation.overwrite true
+
 Recompute stats for relative actions and push to hub:
     lerobot-edit-dataset \
         --repo_id lerobot/pusht \
@@ -256,6 +269,7 @@ class RecomputeStatsConfig(OperationConfig):
     relative_exclude_joints: list[str] | None = None
     chunk_size: int = 50
     num_workers: int = 0
+    overwrite: bool = False
 
 
 @OperationConfig.register_subclass("info")
@@ -280,16 +294,30 @@ class EditDatasetConfig:
     push_to_hub: bool = False
 
 
+def _resolve_io_paths(
+    repo_id: str,
+    new_repo_id: str | None,
+    root: Path | str | None,
+    new_root: Path | str | None,
+    default_new_repo_id: str | None = None,
+) -> tuple[str, Path, Path]:
+    """Resolve input/output paths and repo_id for dataset operations.
+
+    Returns (output_repo_id, input_path, output_path) with resolved (symlink-safe) paths.
+    """
+    input_path = (Path(root) if root else HF_LEROBOT_HOME / repo_id).resolve()
+    output_repo_id = new_repo_id or default_new_repo_id or repo_id
+    output_path = (Path(new_root) if new_root else HF_LEROBOT_HOME / output_repo_id).resolve()
+    return output_repo_id, input_path, output_path
+
+
 def get_output_path(
     repo_id: str,
     new_repo_id: str | None,
     root: Path | str | None,
     new_root: Path | str | None,
 ) -> tuple[str, Path]:
-    input_path = Path(root) if root else HF_LEROBOT_HOME / repo_id
-
-    output_repo_id = new_repo_id if new_repo_id else repo_id
-    output_path = Path(new_root) if new_root else HF_LEROBOT_HOME / output_repo_id
+    output_repo_id, input_path, output_path = _resolve_io_paths(repo_id, new_repo_id, root, new_root)
 
     # In case of in-place modification, create a backup of the original dataset (if it exists)
     if output_path == input_path:
@@ -557,7 +585,39 @@ def handle_recompute_stats(cfg: EditDatasetConfig) -> None:
     if not isinstance(cfg.operation, RecomputeStatsConfig):
         raise ValueError("Operation config must be RecomputeStatsConfig")
 
-    dataset = LeRobotDataset(cfg.repo_id, root=cfg.root)
+    # Determine whether this is an in-place operation
+    output_repo_id, input_root, output_root = _resolve_io_paths(
+        cfg.repo_id,
+        cfg.new_repo_id,
+        cfg.root,
+        cfg.new_root,
+        default_new_repo_id=f"{cfg.repo_id}_recomputed_stats",
+    )
+    in_place = output_root == input_root
+
+    if in_place and not cfg.operation.overwrite:
+        raise ValueError(
+            f"recompute_stats would overwrite the dataset in-place at {input_root}. "
+            "Pass --operation.overwrite true to allow in-place modification, "
+            "or use --new_repo_id / --new_root to write to a different location. "
+            f"Default output repo_id when neither is set: '{cfg.repo_id}_recomputed_stats'."
+        )
+
+    if in_place:
+        logging.warning(
+            f"Overwriting dataset stats in-place at {input_root}. The original stats will be lost."
+        )
+        dataset = LeRobotDataset(cfg.repo_id, root=input_root)
+    else:
+        logging.info(f"Copying dataset from {input_root} to {output_root}")
+        if output_root.exists():
+            backup_path = output_root.with_name(output_root.name + "_old")
+            logging.warning(f"Output directory {output_root} already exists. Moving to {backup_path}")
+            if backup_path.exists():
+                shutil.rmtree(backup_path)
+            shutil.move(output_root, backup_path)
+        shutil.copytree(input_root, output_root)
+        dataset = LeRobotDataset(output_repo_id, root=output_root)
 
     logging.info(f"Recomputing stats for {cfg.repo_id}")
     if cfg.operation.relative_action:
@@ -578,7 +638,7 @@ def handle_recompute_stats(cfg: EditDatasetConfig) -> None:
     logging.info(f"Stats written to {dataset.root}")
 
     if cfg.push_to_hub:
-        logging.info(f"Pushing to hub as {dataset.meta.repo_id}...")
+        logging.info(f"Pushing to hub as {dataset.repo_id}...")
         dataset.push_to_hub()