Latest Update: 1-15-2026
Float shows how much an activity can move without causing impacts in the schedule. In Planera, there are two types of float:
Total Float – how much an activity can slip before the project finish date is affected
Free Float – how much an activity can slip before it affects the driving successor
Understanding the difference helps you:
Spot schedule risk earlier
Avoid unintentionally delaying downstream work
Make informed decisions on what work to prioritize
What Is Float?
Float is the amount of time an activity can be delayed without negatively impacting it’s successor or the end date of the project.
Float is calculated automatically by the schedule based on:
Activity logic (predecessors and successors)
Activity durations
The project start and finish dates
Understanding Total Float
Total Float is the amount of time an activity can be delayed without delaying the project’s final completion date.
Think of Total Float as:
“How much can this activity slip before the whole project is late?”
What Total Float Tells You
Activities with 0 days or less of Total Float are on the critical path
Activities with positive Total Float have some flexibility
Activities with negative Total Float mean the schedule is already behind a target or constraint
Why Total Float Matters
Total Float helps you understand:
Which activities are driving the project finish date
Where the biggest schedule risks are
Which delays truly threaten the overall project
Understanding Free Float
Free Float is the amount of time an activity can be delayed without delaying the next activity in the schedule.
Think of Free Float as:
“How much can this slip before it causes problems for the next crew?”
Why Free Float Is Different
An activity can have Total Float, but No Free Float
This means:
The activity won’t delay the project finish
But it will delay the driving successor
Why Free Float Matters
Free Float is especially useful for:
Weekly and short-term planning
Understanding handoffs between crews or phases
Avoiding surprises in near-term work