What to Wear in Denver
USA · 8 monthly packing guides
Denver runs high-altitude at 1,609m / 5,280ft (the Mile High City), with strong sun at altitude and afternoon thunderstorms in summer. The dressing register splits Western-cowboy + outdoors: Topo Designs (Fort Collins-founded 2008, the recognized local outdoor-design heritage), Patagonia, Pendleton, Filson, Levi's, Lucchese (boots since 1883), Frye, Stetson. Red Rocks Amphitheatre, owned by the City and County of Denver, opened on 15 June 1941. In January the National Western Stock Show runs 16 days (the 121st, 9–24 January 2027), and its Kick-off Parade lines downtown streets with boots, chaps and cowboy hats.
Choose your month below to match your layers and shoes to the weather. Across the months covered, average daily lows reach -8°C / 18°F in December; average highs reach 32°C / 90°F in July.
Compare Denver by month
Monthly averages help compare packing needs; check the forecast before departure. Only months with published guides are listed. See the source notes below for station and measurement differences. Scroll across the table to see all weather details on a small screen.
| Month | Average low | Average high | Rain days | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January packing guide | -7°C / 19°F | 7°C / 45°F | 4 | 9h 40m |
| May packing guide | 8°C / 46°F | 22°C / 72°F | 11 | 14h 30m |
| June packing guide | 13°C / 55°F | 28°C / 82°F | 9 | 14h 50m |
| July packing guide | 17°C / 63°F | 32°C / 90°F | 9 | 14h 50m |
| August packing guide | 16°C / 61°F | 31°C / 88°F | 9 | 13h 35m |
| October packing guide | 3°C / 37°F | 19°C / 66°F | 5 | 11h 15m |
| November packing guide | -3°C / 27°F | 12°C / 54°F | 5 | 10h 00m |
| December packing guide | -8°C / 18°F | 7°C / 45°F | 4 | 9h 25m |
Choose your Denver packing list
Denver in January: 7°C / 45°F days, −7°C / 19°F nights, and 16 days of the National Western Stock Show, from 9 to 24 January 2027.
In this capsule: Chocolate suede rancher jacket, cream shearling collar; Brick-red pearl-snap western shirt, sawtooth pockets; Oatmeal fine-rib merino crew base layer.
Denver in May is high-altitude late spring — 22°C / 72°F afternoons, 8°C / 46°F mornings, 11 rain days, late snow possible. UV index 11 (extreme) at 1,609m altitude.
In this capsule: Mid-weight wool sweater — Pendleton, Quince, Filson; Cotton/wool blend long-sleeve base — neutral; Packable rain shell — Patagonia Houdini, Outdoor Research.
Denver in June is high-altitude early summer — 28°C / 82°F afternoons, 13°C / 55°F mornings, 9 rain days, peak hailstorm season for the Front Range corridor.
In this capsule: Lightweight cotton tee + cotton dress; Mid-weight cardigan — Pendleton, Quince; Dark denim or chinos — Levi's, A.G. Adriano.
Denver in July is peak high-altitude summer — 32°C / 90°F afternoons, 17°C / 63°F nights, 9 rain days, North American monsoon thunderstorm pattern at peak.
In this capsule: Lightweight cotton tee + cotton dress; Light cardigan — Pendleton, Quince; Denim or chinos — Levi's, A.G. Adriano.
Denver in August continues peak summer at altitude — 31°C / 88°F afternoons, 16°C / 61°F nights, 9 rain days, monsoon thunderstorms continuing the July pattern.
In this capsule: Lightweight cotton tee + cotton dress; Light cardigan — Pendleton, Quince; Denim or chinos — Levi's, A.G. Adriano.
Denver in October: 19°C / 66°F afternoons, 3°C / 37°F mornings, a first freeze due on 7 October and a first snow due on the 19th.
In this capsule: Dark indigo denim trucker jacket; Dark brown chunky cable-knit cardigan; White heavyweight cotton crew tee.
Denver in November: 12°C / 54°F afternoons, −3°C / 27°F nights, the clocks back on the 1st, and a first snow that came on the 5th in 2024 and the 29th in 2025.
In this capsule: Forest-green diamond-quilted jacket, brown corduroy collar, hip length; Warm stone chunky wool crew, raglan sleeves; Mid-blue oversized denim shirt.
Denver in December: 7°C / 45°F afternoons, −8°C / 18°F nights, 0.35 inches of precipitation, and the 52nd Parade of Lights on Saturday 5 December.
In this capsule: Cream down puffer jacket, stand collar, hip length; Cream Icelandic-style wool sweater, charcoal-and-brown patterned yoke; Charcoal merino thermal long-sleeve base.
Climate sources by month
These credits follow the source recorded on each monthly guide. Climate figures inform the packing advice; outfit combinations and illustrations are editorial suggestions.
- January: NOAA · Denver International Airport (DEN) · 1991–2020 normalsAt 1,655 m / 5,431 ft. The station sits 40 km northeast of downtown on open plain, so it runs colder overnight than the city does.
- May: NOAA · Denver International Airport (DEN) · 1991–2020 normalsAt 1,655 m / 5,431 ft. The station sits 40 km northeast of downtown on open plain, so it runs colder overnight than the city does.
- June: NOAA · Denver International Airport (DEN) · 1991–2020 normalsAt 1,655 m / 5,431 ft. The station sits 40 km northeast of downtown on open plain, so it runs colder overnight than the city does.
- July: NOAA · Denver International Airport (DEN) · 1991–2020 normalsAt 1,655 m / 5,431 ft. The station sits 40 km northeast of downtown on open plain, so it runs colder overnight than the city does.
- August: NOAA · Denver International Airport (DEN) · 1991–2020 normalsAt 1,655 m / 5,431 ft. The station sits 40 km northeast of downtown on open plain, so it runs colder overnight than the city does.
- October: NOAA · Denver International Airport (DEN) · 1991–2020 normalsAt 1,655 m / 5,431 ft. The station sits 40 km northeast of downtown on open plain, so it runs colder overnight than the city does.
- November: NOAA · Denver International Airport (DEN) · 1991–2020 normalsAt 1,655 m / 5,431 ft. The station sits 40 km northeast of downtown on open plain, so it runs colder overnight than the city does.
- December: NOAA · Denver International Airport (DEN) · 1991–2020 normalsAt 1,655 m / 5,431 ft. The station sits 40 km northeast of downtown on open plain, so it runs colder overnight than the city does.
Frequently asked questions
Start with your travel month. The 8 published guides cover January, May, June, July, August, October, November, December. Compare the average low as well as the high: among these months, December has the lowest average low at -8°C / 18°F, while July has the highest average high at 32°C / 90°F. For a trip spanning two months, read both lists before deciding which layers to bring.
No. They are monthly climate averages for planning, not temperatures promised for a particular day or hour. Check the local forecast close to departure and adjust your layers and rain protection. The source, station and averaging period are listed for each month where recorded; different stations or rain-day definitions can affect comparisons.
No. Treat the capsule as a set of clothing functions: walking shoes, a base outfit, weather protection and any change for dinner or a venue's dress code. Start with equivalents you own. Adjust quantities to your trip length and laundry access; the illustrations are outfit suggestions, not a shopping requirement.