Colorado Unemployment Calculator
Figure basis: Official U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Unemployment InsuranceThis calculator estimates your Colorado unemployment insurance (UI) weekly benefit for 2026. Enter your usual gross weekly pay to see an estimated weekly benefit, alongside the official Colorado minimum ($25) and maximum ($767) weekly benefit amounts and the 13 to 26 weeks of benefits payable. The weekly amount is an estimate: it uses about 50% wage replacement (which matches the common "one twenty-sixth of high-quarter wages" rule) and is capped at the state minimum and maximum. Your state agency sets the exact figure from your base-period wage history, and eligibility rules apply. The minimum, maximum, and number of weeks are the official 2026 figures, sourced from U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Unemployment Insurance.
In Colorado, the weekly unemployment benefit ranges from $25 to $767, payable for 13 to 26 weeks (up to $19,942 in total). On $1,000 a week, the estimated benefit is about $500.00 per week.
How Colorado unemployment benefits work
Colorado pays a weekly benefit amount (WBA) based on your earnings during the base period (usually the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters). The WBA is subject to a state minimum of $25 and a maximum of $767 (up to $844 with the maximum dependents' allowance), and is payable for 13 to 26 weeks.
estimated weekly benefit = min(max(weekly wage x 50%, $25), $767)
estimated maximum total = estimated weekly benefit x 26 weeks
The 50% figure is an approximation of the common state formula; your state agency sets the exact WBA from your wage records.
Colorado unemployment figures (2026)
| Figure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum weekly benefit | $25 | U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Unemployment Insurance |
| Maximum weekly benefit | $767 | U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Unemployment Insurance |
| Maximum with dependents' allowance | $844 | U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Unemployment Insurance |
| Weeks payable | 13 to 26 weeks | U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Unemployment Insurance |
Editor's insight: Colorado's indexed ceiling versus its $25 floor
Colorado runs one of the more generous maximum unemployment benefits in the country, above $760 a week, because the state ties its ceiling to a share of the statewide average weekly wage. That indexing means the maximum climbs most years as Colorado wages rise, so a figure that looks high today is likely to be revised upward again rather than sit frozen the way caps do in states like California or Alabama.
At the other end sits an unusually low minimum weekly benefit of just $25. The distance between a $25 floor and a ceiling above $760 is one of the widest ranges of any state, which means where your own wages fall in the base period makes an enormous difference to your check. The broad 50% replacement estimate this tool uses will land most mid-range earners well inside that band.
Benefits are payable for up to 26 weeks, with the exact number driven by your total base-period earnings rather than the statewide jobless rate. Because the maximum is recalculated annually, always confirm the current ceiling before relying on it: the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment publishes the updated figure each year, and it sets your official weekly benefit from your wage records.
Colorado unemployment: frequently asked questions
What is the maximum unemployment benefit in Colorado for 2026?
The maximum weekly benefit amount in Colorado is $767 for 2026 (up to $844 with the maximum dependents' allowance). The minimum is $25. Over the maximum 26 weeks, that is up to $19,942 in total benefits.
How many weeks of unemployment can I get in Colorado?
Colorado pays benefits for 13 to 26 weeks; the exact number depends on your base-period wages and, in some states, the state unemployment rate.
How much unemployment will I get in Colorado?
Your weekly benefit is roughly half your usual gross weekly pay, subject to the Colorado minimum of $25 and maximum of $767. For example, on $1,000 a week the estimate is about $500.00. This is an estimate; Colorado sets your exact amount from your base-period wage history.
Is this the exact unemployment amount I will receive?
No. The minimum, maximum, and weeks shown are the official 2026 figures, but the weekly amount here is an estimate (about 50% wage replacement, which matches the common "one twenty-sixth of high-quarter wages" rule). Your state agency computes the exact figure from your reported wages, and eligibility rules apply.
Official sources
- Colorado unemployment weekly benefit and duration (tax year 2026): U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Unemployment Insurance, as at Jul 15, 2026.
Reviewed by the CalculatorHub team, edited by James Graham, 15 July 2026. See our methodology. General information, not legal or financial advice; file your claim with your state agency.