What taxes make up Denver's 14.75% rate?

Denver's lodging tax stacks several layers: the city lodger's tax, Colorado state sales tax, county and RTD/cultural district taxes, and a tourism improvement district assessment. Combined they total roughly 14.75% of the room rate.

Is the tax on the room rate or the total?

Lodging taxes apply to the taxable room charge. Mandatory resort or facility fees are often taxable too. This tool taxes the room subtotal you enter, so include any taxable fees in the rate if you want them covered.

Does this apply to short-term rentals?

Generally yes. Denver applies its lodger's tax to short-term rentals like Airbnb and Vrbo, and platforms typically collect it. The combined rate is similar to hotels, so this estimate is a reasonable guide for both.

Are taxes the same everywhere in Colorado?

No. Each city and county sets its own lodging tax on top of the state rate, so totals vary widely. Denver's roughly 14.75% is higher than many Colorado towns because of its tourism and transit district levies.

Will my final bill match exactly?

It should be close. The exact rate can shift slightly with district changes, and some properties add separate non-tax fees. Treat this as a strong estimate and confirm the line items on your hotel folio.

Denver Hotel & Occupancy Tax Calculator

This calculator reveals the real cost of a Denver hotel stay by applying the city’s stacked lodging tax — roughly 14.75% — to your room rate across the nights you book.

How it works

room subtotal = nightly rate × nights
tax           = room subtotal × 0.1475
total         = room subtotal + tax

The 14.75% figure combines Denver’s city lodger’s tax, Colorado state sales tax, county and RTD/cultural taxes, and a tourism improvement district assessment. Because these layers apply to the room charge, the tax scales directly with both the rate and the number of nights.

Example and tips

A $189 room for 3 nights has a $567 subtotal; at 14.75% the lodging tax is about $83.63, making the total roughly $650.63. When comparing hotels, always compare post-tax totals — a lower advertised rate can lose to a competitor once Denver’s double-digit lodging tax and any mandatory resort fees are added. Short-term rentals carry a similar rate, so factor it in when weighing a hotel against an Airbnb.