Soil labs by state
Colorado
Colorado residents can use Colorado State University’s official Soil, Water and Plant Testing Lab for homeowner soil testing. CSU Extension’s Colorado guidance says to use a local lab familiar with the alkaline calcareous soils of the mountain west, and it links homeowners to the CSU lab and county Extension network. County and area Extension offices are listed on CSU Extension’s official county office finder page.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- State soil lab
- Colorado State University Soil, Water and Plant Testing Lab
- Lab website
- Official page →
- Basic test price
- $40.00 per sample
- Find your county Extension office
- Official page →
Official resources in Colorado
Official CSU page for homeowner sample submission steps, lab address, turnaround time, and soil test options.
Official CSU fee page showing current soil test codes and per-sample prices.
Official CSU page with the horticulture soil submission form homeowners need to send with samples.
Official Colorado-specific Extension guidance on why to test, how to sample, and typical sampling depths for lawns and gardens.
Official finder for Colorado county and area Extension offices.
Key facts for Colorado
- Colorado’s land-grant homeowner soil-testing resource is the Colorado State University Soil, Water and Plant Testing Lab. [CSU Soil Services]
- CSU says samples can be submitted in person or mailed to the lab in Denver. [CSU Soil Services]
- CSU says county Extension offices statewide provide sample bags, tools, technical assistance, and results interpretation. [CSU Soil Services]
- CSU’s price list shows the S2 Basic soil analysis is $40.00 per sample, effective July 1, 2026. [CSU Test Codes and Price List]
- CSU says soil test results are typically available within 7 to 10 business days after sample receipt. [CSU Soil Services]
- CSU Extension says typical sampling depth is 0-2 to 3 inches for lawns and 0-6 to 8 inches for vegetable and flower beds. [CSU Extension Soil Tests]
What to do next
- Use the CSU county office finder to locate your local Extension office, then ask whether that office offers sample bags or local submission help before you collect soil.
- For a yard or garden, use CSU’s Horticulture Soil Submission Form and label each sample with a distinct sample ID such as lawn, raised bed, or front garden.
- Collect separate samples for areas managed differently, then either mail them directly to the CSU lab or deliver them in person to the Denver lab.
Helpful guides
- How to take a soil sample for a lab test
- University soil labs vs. private labs vs. home kits
- How to read a soil test report
- Soil pH and lime: what your test is telling you