How Much Unemployment Pays in Colorado
How Colorado calculates weekly unemployment benefits, the current minimum and maximum, and how many weeks you can collect.
Short answer: Colorado uses two formulas and pays whichever is higher. Formula 1: 60% of 1/26 of your wages in the two highest consecutive quarters of your base period, capped at $804 per week. Colorado UI Benefits Estimator (CDLE); C.R.S. § 8-73-102
| Weekly benefit amount | Colorado uses two formulas and pays whichever is higher. Formula 1: 60% of 1/26 of your wages in the two highest consecutive quarters of your base period, capped at $804 per week. Formula 2: 50% of 1/52 of your total base period wages, capped at $884 per week. The minimum weekly benefit is $25. The maximum may be adjusted each July 1 for new claims filed after that date, so the current $884 maximum applies to new claims filed on or after July 1, 2026. The U.S. Department of Labor's July 2026 summary of state laws also lists Colorado at $25 minimum and $804 or $884 maximum. |
|---|---|
| How many weeks | Up to 26 weeks. Your total benefits per claim are the lesser of 26 times your weekly benefit amount or one-third of your base period wages. |
| Waiting week | Yes. You must serve a one-week waiting period of total or partial unemployment, and no benefits are paid for that week. Source: C.R.S. § 8-73-107(1)(d) |
More Colorado unemployment benefits
- Logging In to Your Colorado Unemployment Claim
- Unemployment for Self-Employed and Gig Workers in Colorado
- Unemployment After Being Fired in Colorado
- Unemployment After Quitting in Colorado
- How to File for Unemployment in Colorado
- All Colorado unemployment benefits rules
FAQ
How much is unemployment in Colorado?
Colorado uses two formulas and pays whichever is higher. Formula 1: 60% of 1/26 of your wages in the two highest consecutive quarters of your base period, capped at $804 per week. Formula 2: 50% of 1/52 of your total base period wages, capped at $884 per week. The minimum weekly benefit is $25. The maximum may be adjusted each July 1 for new claims filed after that date, so the current $884 maximum applies to new claims filed on or after July 1, 2026.
How long can you get unemployment in Colorado?
Up to 26 weeks. Your total benefits per claim are the lesser of 26 times your weekly benefit amount or one-third of your base period wages.
Is there a waiting week for unemployment in Colorado?
Yes. You must serve a one-week waiting period of total or partial unemployment, and no benefits are paid for that week.
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.