Licensed Daycare in Denver, Colorado
639 licensed daycares in Denver, verified weekly. Compare cost, age groups, and Head Start spots in your ZIP — directly from official Colorado licensing records.
Denver listings updated May 2026 from official Colorado records.
Daycare in Denver: what parents should know
Denver has 639 licensed childcare providers in our directory, with Child Care Center the most common type (about 42% of local listings). Every provider here holds a current Colorado license at indexing time, sourced from Colorado Department of Early Childhood — Licensing & Administration.
For age coverage, 20 centers in Denver report infant care (roughly 3% — infant slots are the scarcest and fill fastest, so start early), and 41 offer preschool programs for ages 3–5. 20 are Head Start programs, free for income-eligible families.
Licensed care in Denver spans 8+ ZIP codes, so families can usually find an option within a short commute. About 13% are family child care homes — typically smaller group sizes and 10–30% cheaper than centers, a good fit for infants and toddlers.
Combined, Denver's licensed centers hold about 45,828 licensed seats — a practical gauge of how much local supply competes for each opening.
Denver childcare by the numbers
The Denver childcare landscape
Denver is unusual: a child here can tap two publicly funded preschool programs that stack. Colorado overhauled early childhood in 2022, creating a dedicated state department, and Denver layers its own voter-funded program on top — so the preschool years are far cheaper here than the private market alone would suggest.
Two preschool programs that stack
Statewide, Universal Preschool Colorado (UPK) gives every 4-year-old (and some younger children) free preschool hours in the year before kindergarten, regardless of income. On top of that, the voter-funded Denver Preschool Program (DPP) provides tuition credits to all Denver 4-year-olds — credits scale by family income and the provider's quality rating. Used together, UPK plus DPP can cover most or all of a Denver 4-year-old's preschool tuition at a participating provider.
Subsidies and quality ratings
For infants and toddlers (before the preschool year), Colorado's subsidy is CCCAP (Colorado Child Care Assistance Program), administered for Denver residents through Denver Human Services. Check each provider's Colorado Shines rating — the state quality system — since DPP tuition credits are larger at higher-rated providers, so quality and affordability move together here.
Where the options are
Options are dense in central neighborhoods — Capitol Hill, Wash Park, the Highlands/LoHi, Cherry Creek, and the Central Park (former Stapleton) area, which has a high concentration of newer centers. Aurora and Lakewood are adjacent markets many Denver families also search given metro commutes.
What it actually costs
Denver sits above the national average. Full-time infant care commonly runs $1,400–$1,900/month at centers, with family child care homes lower. The preschool year is the cheapest by far once UPK and DPP are applied — which is why local advice is to budget hardest for the infant/toddler stretch.
When to start looking
UPK Colorado runs an annual application that typically opens in winter for the following fall — match through the state system, then confirm with the provider. For infant care, plan ahead: Denver infant rooms carry waitlists, so tour early and join lists well before your start date.
Childcare costs in Denver
ChildCare Aware reports the Colorado average full-time cost at $1,430/month for infant care and $1,080/month for preschool. City-level prices in Denver vary by ZIP code and program model — Head Start sites are free for eligible families, family daycare homes typically run 10-30% below center rates, and accredited centers run above the average.
The Child & Dependent Care Tax Credit and a Dependent Care FSA ($5,000 max) reduce effective cost regardless of program. Colorado families may also qualify for Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP) (intake: (303) 866-5957).
Full Colorado licensing & cost overviewQuick facts
- State regulator
- Colorado Department of Early Childhood — Licensing & Administration
- Infant ratio
- 1:5
- Toddler ratio
- 1:5
- Preschool ratio
- 1:10
- Avg capacity
- 71 kids
Largest licensed centers in Denver
By licensed capacity on file — bigger programs often mean more openings and age groups. Always verify the current license before enrolling.
All Denver licensed centers
Page 3 of 3Each listing links to the full state-record details, including last inspection date if reported.
Common parent questions about licensing, ratios, and how to compare programs in this area.
How many licensed daycare centers are in Denver, Colorado?
What's the average daycare cost in Denver?
What staff-to-child ratios apply in Denver daycares?
Are subsidies available for daycare in Denver?
How do I verify a Denver daycare's license?
Where to get childcare help in Denver
Free, official channels for finding licensed care, checking quality ratings, and applying for assistance — no account or fee required.
Child Care Resource & Referral counselors help you find vetted local options.
1-800-424-2246 · Find yoursUnited Way's free, confidential line connects you to local childcare, food, and family aid.
Call 211 · 211.orgFree early education for income-eligible families and pregnant women.
Find a programColorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP) can cover most of your childcare cost by income.
(303) 866-5957 · How to applyCheck NAEYC accreditation and your state's quality-rating (QRIS) for any provider.
Find quality careConfirm any provider's current license & inspection record with Colorado Department of Early Childhood — Licensing & Administration.
Official license searchChildcare resources for Denver
Data and guidance on this page draw on official government and nonprofit sources.
How this data is sourced. Listings for Denver, Colorado are compiled from official Colorado Department of Early Childhood — Licensing & Administration licensing records and cross-checked for current license status — not paid placements or user star-ratings. Rankings never depend on advertising. Provider details change often, so always confirm directly before enrolling. Reviewed by the DaycareHub editorial team · May 2026 · methodology
Search 639 Licensed Centers in Denver
Free, no signup, verified directly with Colorado Department of Early Childhood — Licensing & Administration.