Denver, Colorado Short-Term Rental Market
Denver's 3,760-listing STR market averages $212 ADR with strong summer demand but significant occupancy compression since 2021.
Quick Answer: Denver, Colorado is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Denver market area is 78%. average monthly revenue in the Denver market area is $4,298. average daily rate in the Denver market area is $202. the top operator in the Denver market area is Evolve with 276 listings. market score is 55/100 (grade C).
Market data reflects the wider Denver market, which covers 17 areas. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Denver.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Denver is one of Colorado’s largest short-term rental markets, with 3,760 active listings as of February 2026. The city draws approximately 37.4 million visitors annually, supporting year-round STR demand across a wide spread of property types and neighborhoods.
The market has undergone meaningful compression over the past five years. Average annual occupancy peaked at 73.2% in 2021 and has since declined to a 2025 average of 54.3%, reflecting a combination of supply growth and shifting traveler patterns post-pandemic. Active listings grew from 3,613 in 2021 to a high of 4,457 in 2023, adding competitive pressure across the board. Supply contracted to a 2025 average of 4,238 listings, suggesting some natural market correction.
On the rate side, average daily rates have moved in the opposite direction: $166 in 2021, rising to $212 by 2025. This ADR growth has partially offset the occupancy decline, keeping average annual revenue at $3,575 in 2025, compared to $4,425 in 2021. February 2026 data shows $210.60 ADR and 38% occupancy, consistent with the market’s historically softer winter period.
Denver’s STR market is geographically diverse. Listings span from downtown and RiNo to Capitol Hill, Wash Park, and suburban corridors near Denver International Airport. The city’s access to Rocky Mountain ski resorts, major sports venues, a convention center, and a large corporate hub creates demand from multiple traveler segments throughout the year.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 58% |
| Feb | 65% |
| Mar | 68% |
| Apr | 67% |
| May | 71% |
| Jun | 81% |
| Jul | 80% |
| Aug | 76% |
| Sep | 73% |
| Oct | 69% |
| Nov | 61% |
| Dec | 62% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Denver are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Denver market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Denver market as a whole, which includes Denver, so these counts are not Denver-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 276 | 10,485 | ★ 4.65 |
| 2 | Atomic Vacation Rentals | 142 | 9,929 | ★ 4.84 |
| 3 | Effortless Rental Group | 137 | 10,713 | ★ 4.77 |
| 4 | VacayPlay | 83 | 5,410 | ★ 4.39 |
| 5 | Homes with Hospitality LLC | 81 | 853 | ★ 4.94 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Denver?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Denver are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 58.8% |
| vrbo | 4.3% |
| both | 36.9% |
Home Value Trends (Denver)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Denver are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Booking Insights
Booking-window and length-of-stay analysis for Denver — how far ahead guests book and how to price around it — is available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Denver enforces a primary-residence-only short-term rental policy. This is the most consequential regulatory fact for any investor evaluating this market.
To obtain a Denver STR license, the host must use the rental property as their primary residence, defined as living there for at least 275 days per calendar year (roughly nine months). This requirement effectively prohibits non-owner-occupied investment properties from operating as STRs. Buyers purchasing a second home or pure investment property in Denver cannot legally rent it short-term under current rules.
For qualifying owner-occupants, the licensing process requires an application submitted to the Denver Permitting and Licensing Center. Fees are $50 at application and $100 for the annual license, totaling $150 per year. Properties must comply with applicable zoning rules that govern where STRs may operate.
Hosts are required to collect and remit lodging taxes on all STR revenue. Denver levies a combined city and county lodging tax, and platforms like Airbnb collect and remit some taxes automatically, but hosts should verify their specific obligations directly with Denver’s Office of Finance to ensure full compliance.
Licenses must be renewed annually. Operating without a license exposes hosts to enforcement action including fines. Denver has increased code enforcement activity in recent years, so compliance is not optional.
Anyone considering a Denver STR investment should consult a local attorney or licensed real estate professional familiar with current enforcement practices before proceeding.
Market Comparison
Denver’s STR market sits in the mid-tier of major U.S. urban markets on both occupancy and rate benchmarks. At 54.3% average occupancy in 2025, Denver trails leisure-dominated markets like beach destinations or mountain resort towns that frequently sustain 65% to 75% annual occupancy, but it outperforms many secondary cities where year-round demand is thinner.
Denver’s $212 average ADR in 2025 is competitive for a large inland urban market. For context, comparable inland metros with strong tourism and business travel (cities like Nashville, Portland, and Denver’s regional peers) typically range from $175 to $225 ADR, placing Denver in the upper half of that peer group on rate.
The primary challenge Denver faces relative to comparable markets is the primary-residence-only regulatory constraint. Cities like Phoenix, Dallas, and Las Vegas allow non-hosted investor-owned STRs, which creates a larger and more liquid supply of investment-grade properties. Denver’s regulatory structure narrows the addressable investor pool to owner-occupants, which limits supply growth but also limits pure investment entry.
RevPAR (revenue per available room) for Denver in February 2026 was $80.00, with a median of $58.10. These figures reflect the seasonally soft winter period and will be substantially higher when measured across the summer peak.
Frequently Asked Questions About Denver, Colorado
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What is the average daily rate for Denver Airbnb rentals?
What does a typical Denver Airbnb earn per month?
What is the average occupancy rate for Denver short-term rentals?
Can I operate an Airbnb in Denver as an investment property?
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How much does a home cost in Denver for an STR investment?
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