Float
Scheduling Terms
Reviewed by forProject Technology - updated Sep 2026
Quick definition: Float (also called Slack) is the amount of time a task can be delayed before it affects other tasks or the project's finish date.
Float, also called Slack, comes in two main forms. Total Float is the delay a task can absorb without pushing out the project finish date. Free Float is the delay it can absorb without affecting the very next task. Tasks on the Critical Path typically have zero, or the least, float in the schedule.
Why it matters
Float tells a scheduler where there's flexibility in the plan and where there isn't — tasks with plenty of float can slip a bit without consequence, while tasks with little or no float need close attention. It's one of the most basic and useful outputs of Critical Path scheduling.
Also known as
Slack
Used in
Critical Path Method scheduling; identifying the Critical Path (typically the path with the least float)
See also
FAQ
What's the difference between Total Float and Free Float?
Total Float measures delay tolerance against the project finish date; Free Float measures delay tolerance against only the next successor task, so Free Float is always less than or equal to Total Float.
Can float be negative?
Yes — Negative Float occurs when a task is scheduled to finish after a required constraint date, signaling the schedule is already behind where it needs to be.
Definition maintained by forProject Technology.
© 2026 forProject Technology, Inc.
© 2026 forProject Technology, Inc.
