Colorado prejudgment interest rate
United States Colorado prejudgment interest — 8% general, 9% for personal injury, both compounded annually.
→ All Colorado judgment & prejudgment interest rates
Fixed by statute Fixed by statute
2026 Colorado prejudgment interest at a glance
- Current rate
- 8% / 9% per year
- Effective date
- July 9, 2026
- Controlling authority
- C.R.S. §5-12-102 (8% general); §13-21-101 (9% personal injury)
- Rate basis
- Fixed by statute
- Source checked
- July 9, 2026
- Recorded history
- 1 data point
Colorado has two prejudgment interest rates, both compounded annually: 8% per year for general and contract claims and money or property wrongfully withheld (C.R.S. §5-12-102(1)(b)), and 9% per year for personal-injury actions (C.R.S. §13-21-101), which §5-12-102 expressly carves out. Colorado is unusually broad — prejudgment interest is NOT limited to liquidated or ascertainable sums.
When Colorado prejudgment interest applies
Prejudgment interest is NOT limited to liquidated/ascertainable sums. Under 5-12-102, the claimant is entitled to interest on all moneys or property "wrongfully withheld," and Colorado courts (e.g., Mesa Sand & Gravel v. Landfill) have held this covers UNLIQUIDATED claims and general contract/property damages — the amount need not be certain or ascertainable. So it is available on unliquidated claims, unlike most states.
When it starts accruing
General (5-12-102): from the date the money/property was wrongfully withheld or the date it became due, running to date of payment or date judgment is entered, whichever occurs first.
Simple or compound
Compound — compounded annually under both 5-12-102 (8%) and 13-21-101 (9%, compounded annually for actions filed on/after 7/1/1979).
→ Compare with the Colorado post-judgment interest rate (interest after judgment)
Colorado has TWO prejudgment rates, both compounded annually: 8% for general/contract claims and money or property wrongfully withheld (C.R.S. §5-12-102(1)(b)), and 9% for personal-injury actions (C.R.S. §13-21-101, from the date suit was filed, for actions filed on/after July 1, 1979). §5-12-102 opens "Except as provided in section 13-21-101," carving personal-injury cases out to the 9% rate. Verified against the statute text 2026-07-09. This is PREjudgment interest, separate from Colorado’s post-judgment rate. Not legal advice.
Current recorded observation
| Effective date | Rate | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| July 9, 2026 | 8% / 9% | Statute |
Source & provenance
Observation recorded July 9, 2026 (00:00 UTC) from the cited source (Colorado General Assembly — Office of Legislative Legal Services (official)):
https://content.leg.colorado.gov/agencies/office-legislative-legal-services/2025-crs-titles-download
Cite this page
StatuteRates. “Colorado Prejudgment Interest Rate.” StatuteRates.com. Accessed today. https://statuterates.com/rates/colorado-prejudgment-rate/ Rate recorded under C.R.S. §5-12-102 (8% general); §13-21-101 (9% personal injury), effective July 9, 2026.