The internal workings are not that different, as @James Allardic already answered. There is a difference though. Using parseFloat, a (trimmed) string starting with one or more numeric characters followed by alphanumeric characters can convert to a Number, with Number that will not succeed. As in:

parseFloat('3.23abc'); //=> 3.23
Number('3.23abc'); //=> NaN

In both conversions, the input string is trimmed, by the way:

parseFloat('  3.23abc '); //=> 3.23
Number('   3.23 '); //=> 3.23
Answer from KooiInc on Stack Overflow
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W3Schools
w3schools.com › jsref › jsref_parsefloat.asp
JavaScript parseFloat() Method
The parseFloat() method parses a value as a string and returns the first number.
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Reintech
reintech.io › blog › understanding-the-parsefloat-method
Understanding the parseFloat() Method | Reintech media
February 22, 2023 - The parseFloat() method is a built-in JavaScript function that parses a string argument and returns a floating-point number.
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Flexiple
flexiple.com › javascript › parsefloat-javascript
parseFloat JavaScript: Syntax and Examples - Flexiple
Learn how to use the JavaScript parseFloat function to convert strings to floating-point numbers accurately. Examples and tips included.
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67

The internal workings are not that different, as @James Allardic already answered. There is a difference though. Using parseFloat, a (trimmed) string starting with one or more numeric characters followed by alphanumeric characters can convert to a Number, with Number that will not succeed. As in:

parseFloat('3.23abc'); //=> 3.23
Number('3.23abc'); //=> NaN

In both conversions, the input string is trimmed, by the way:

parseFloat('  3.23abc '); //=> 3.23
Number('   3.23 '); //=> 3.23
2 of 5
33

No. Both will result in the internal ToNumber(string) function being called.

From ES5 section 15.7.1 (The Number Constructor Called as a Function):

When Number is called as a function rather than as a constructor, it performs a type conversion...

Returns a Number value (not a Number object) computed by ToNumber(value) if value was supplied, else returns +0.

From ES5 section 15.1.2.3 (parseFloat (string)):

... If neither trimmedString nor any prefix of trimmedString satisfies the syntax of a StrDecimalLiteral (see 9.3.1) ...

And 9.3.1 is the section titled "ToNumber Applied to the String Type", which is what the first quote is referring to when it says ToNumber(value).


Update (see comments)

By calling the Number constructor with the new operator, you will get an instance of the Number object, rather than a numeric literal. For example:

typeof new Number(10); //object
typeof Number(10); //number

This is defined in section 15.7.2 (The Number Constructor):

When Number is called as part of a new expression it is a constructor: it initialises the newly created object.

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Codecademy
codecademy.com › docs › javascript › number methods › .parsefloat()
JavaScript | Number Methods | .parseFloat() | Codecademy
May 31, 2024 - In JavaScript, the .parseFloat() method parses a given string and returns the first floating-point number found in the string. Parsing stops when it encounters a character that is not part of a valid number.
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GeeksforGeeks
geeksforgeeks.org › javascript › javascript-number-parsefloat-method
JavaScript Number parseFloat() Method - GeeksforGeeks
July 11, 2025 - JavaScript parseFloat() Method is used to accept the string and convert it into a floating-point number. If the string does not contain a numeral value or If the first character of the string is not a Number then it returns NaN i.e, not a number.
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MDN Web Docs
developer.mozilla.org › en-US › docs › Web › JavaScript › Reference › Global_Objects › Number › parseFloat
Number.parseFloat() - JavaScript | MDN
The Number.parseFloat() static method parses an argument and returns a floating point number. If a number cannot be parsed from the argument, it returns NaN.
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Flexiple
flexiple.com › javascript › parsefloat-method
JavaScript parseFloat() Method - Flexiple
The parseFloat() function in JavaScript ... number. This method parses a string argument and returns a floating point number until it reaches a character that is not part of a valid number syntax....
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Scaler
scaler.com › home › topics › javascript parsefloat()
JavaScript parseFloat() Method - Scaler Topics
March 7, 2024 - Learn how to use the parseFloat() method in JavaScript to convert strings to floating-point numbers efficiently. Master concept of parsefloat in JavaScript.
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EDUCBA
educba.com › home › software development › software development tutorials › javascript tutorial › parsefloat in javascript
parseFloat in JavaScript | 10 Useful Examples of parseFloat in JavaScript
March 23, 2023 - parseFloat() is a global inbuilt function that accepts a string as an input and converts to floating-point numbers which means the floating-point number is parsed to a point where it encounters a character, a non-digit.
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Programiz
programiz.com › javascript › library › built-in › parseFloat
JavaScript parseFloat()
The parseFloat() function parses an argument and returns a floating-point number.
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GeeksforGeeks
geeksforgeeks.org › java › float-parsefloat-method-in-java-with-examples
Float parseFloat() method in Java with examples - GeeksforGeeks
July 11, 2025 - The parseFloat() method in Float Class is a built in method in Java that returns a new float initialized to the value represented by the specified String, as done by the valueOf method of class Float.
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MSR
rajamsr.com › home › javascript parsefloat(): how to avoid common mistakes
JavaScript ParseFloat(): How to Avoid Common Mistakes | MSR - Web Dev Simplified
January 28, 2024 - The JavaScript parseFloat() is a built-in global function that converts a JavaScript string parameter to a floating-point number.
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W3Schools
w3schools.com › jsref › jsref_number_parsefloat.asp
JavaScript Number.parseFloat()
The Number.parseFloat() method parses a value as a string and returns the first number. If the first character cannot be converted, NaN is returned. Leading and trailing spaces are ignored.
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Medium
medium.com › @roy.elaawar › parsefloat-vs-parstint-in-javascript-4f3d345f205f
ParseFloat vs ParseInt in JavaScript | by Roy Elaawar | Medium
November 6, 2023 - ParseFloat vs ParseInt in JavaScript Both of these functions are crucial for extracting numeric values from strings, and they each have their own unique characteristics and uses. parseFloat is a …
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Learnjavascript
learnjavascript.co.uk › reference › globals › parsefloat.html
JavaScript parseFloat() Function
The JavaScript parseFloat() global function parses a string argument (converting it to a string first if required) and attempts to return a floating point number.