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Velvet Digest

What is float in PMP?

Author

Ethan Hayes

Updated on June 12, 2026

In project management, float or slack is the amount of time that a task in a project network can be delayed without causing a delay to: subsequent tasks ("free float") project completion date ("total float").

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Similarly, you may ask, how is float calculated in project management?

Total float is how long an activity can be delayed, without delaying the project completion date. On a critical path, the total float is zero. Total float is often known as the slack. You can calculate the total float by subtracting the Early Start date of an activity from its Late Start date.

Likewise, what is difference between slack and float? Slack Versus Float However, the main difference between float and slack is that slack is typically associated with inactivity, while float is associated with activity. Slack time allows an activity to start later than originally planned, while float time allows an activity to take longer than originally planned.

Additionally, what is free float in PMP?

Free Float. Free float is measured by subtracting the early finish (EF) of the activity from the early start (ES) of the successor activity. Free float represents the amount of time that a schedule activity can be delayed without delaying the early start date of any immediate successor activity within the network path.

What is the difference between free float and project float?

Total Float is the amount of time that an activity can be delayed from its early start date without delaying the project finish date. Free Float is the amount of time that an activity can be delayed without delaying the early start date of any successor activity.

Related Question Answers

What is PERT chart?

A PERT chart is a project management tool that provides a graphical representation of a project's timeline. The Program Evaluation Review Technique (PERT) breaks down the individual tasks of a project for analysis.

What is dummy activity?

A dummy activity is a simulated activity of sorts, one that is of a zero duration and is created for the sole purpose of demonstrating a specific relationship and path of action on the arrow diagramming method.

Why is total float important?

Total Float is a concept within the Critical Path Method which tells the project manager how much a task can be delayed without impacting the project completion date. Float is the final product of the project network diagram. The network diagram is used to determine two things: Tasks which are on the critical path.

What is total float?

Total Float is the schedule ?exibility or amount of time that a schedule activity can be delayed or extended without delaying the project ?nish date. Free Float: It is the amount of time that a schedule activity can be delayed without delaying the early start date of any successor.

What is negative float in project management?

Negative float, also known as negative slack, is the amount of time beyond a project's scheduled completion that a task within the project requires. Total float is the amount of time a task within a project can be delayed without endangering the project deadline.

Can critical path have float?

Slack, or float, refers to the amount of days or hours that various related tasks can be delayed without pushing the project back. The critical path, by definition, has no slack. But other tasks not on the critical path may have built-in float.

What is critical path in Gantt chart?

In project management, the “critical path” refers to the longest sequence of dependent or floating tasks that must be completed in order to get the project done on time. You can identify if a task is on the critical path if, delayed by one day, it can influence the duration of the project.

Can free float be more than total float?

The total float is the amount an activities progress can be extended without delaying critical path activities, and, therefore, the project. Free float, however, shows how much an activity can be postponed without disturbing a successor activity. Free float is a more stringent measure than total float.

Who owns the float?

Nevertheless, it is universally recognized that float belongs to the project. Either party can utilize the float while it is still up for grabs. There is one brief period of time, however, when only the contractor owns the float. He alone decides how much float each and every activity has in the project schedule.

What does total float mean in banking?

In financial terms, the float is money within the banking system that is briefly counted twice due to time gaps in the registering of a deposit or withdrawal, usually due to the delay in processing paper checks. A bank credits a customer's account as soon as a check is deposited.

What is float in a project schedule?

In project management, float or slack is the amount of time that a task in a project network can be delayed without causing a delay to: subsequent tasks ("free float") project completion date ("total float").

What is float and its types?

There are four types of floats. Total Float, Free Float, Interfering Float and Independent Float. (i) Total Float : The total float of an activity represents the amount of time by which an activity can be delayed without delaying the project completion date.

How is free float defined?

Also known as public float, a free float refers to the number of a company's outstanding shares owned by public investors, excluding locked-in shares held by company managers and officers, controlling-interest investors, governments and other private parties.

What is a float?

A float is a floating-point number, which means it is a number that has a decimal place. Floats are used when more precision is needed.

What is float in Primavera?

In Primavera P6 we have 2 important value: Total Float and Free Float. Total Float: is the amount of time an activity can be delayed without delaying the Project Finish Date. Free Float: is the amount of time an activity can be delayed without delaying its Successor Activity Finish Date.

What is activity float?

Float, sometimes called slack, is the amount of time an activity, network path, or project can be delayed from the early start without changing the completion date of the project. Total float is the difference between the finish date of the last activity on the critical path and the project completion date.

What is critical path delay?

The 'critical path' is the path that defines the end point of the schedule (or a part of the schedule). Delays on the 'critical path' will delay a project completion; and accelerating work on the 'critical path' will advance the project completion (at least until another path becomes critical)9.

How do you find the critical path?

Click here to get my PMP exam brain-dump for free.
  1. In other words, critical path is the longest path in your project's schedule network diagram, and is the SHORTEST possible duration for the project.
  2. Calculating Critical Path is a simple 4-step process.
  3. A -> B -> C -> D -> G -> H —> 10+20+5+10+2+2 = 49 minutes.

What do you mean by Critical Path?

In project management, a critical path is the sequence of project network activities which add up to the longest overall duration, regardless if that longest duration has float or not. This determines the shortest time possible to complete the project. There can be 'total float' (unused time) within the critical path.