diff --git a/CHANGES.rst b/CHANGES.rst
index ad8c812541..4bcff3dbdd 100644
--- a/CHANGES.rst
+++ b/CHANGES.rst
@@ -76,6 +76,9 @@ Specviz2d
 - Fixed default spectral extraction parameters when the background separation otherwise would have
   fallen directly on the edge of the image. [#1633]
 
+- Spectral-extraction plugin: support floats for all input trace positions, separations, and widths.
+  [#1652]
+
 Other Changes and Additions
 ---------------------------
 
diff --git a/jdaviz/configs/specviz2d/plugins/spectral_extraction/spectral_extraction.py b/jdaviz/configs/specviz2d/plugins/spectral_extraction/spectral_extraction.py
index b8152483e8..efb57595a8 100644
--- a/jdaviz/configs/specviz2d/plugins/spectral_extraction/spectral_extraction.py
+++ b/jdaviz/configs/specviz2d/plugins/spectral_extraction/spectral_extraction.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
                                         SelectPluginComponent,
                                         DatasetSelect,
                                         AddResults)
-from jdaviz.core.custom_traitlets import IntHandleEmpty
+from jdaviz.core.custom_traitlets import IntHandleEmpty, FloatHandleEmpty
 from jdaviz.core.marks import PluginLine
 
 from astropy.nddata import NDData, StdDevUncertainty, VarianceUncertainty, UnknownUncertainty
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ class SpectralExtraction(PluginTemplateMixin):
     trace_type_items = List().tag(sync=True)
     trace_type_selected = Unicode().tag(sync=True)
 
-    trace_pixel = IntHandleEmpty(0).tag(sync=True)
+    trace_pixel = FloatHandleEmpty(0).tag(sync=True)
 
     trace_peak_method_items = List().tag(sync=True)
     trace_peak_method_selected = Unicode().tag(sync=True)
@@ -51,10 +51,10 @@ class SpectralExtraction(PluginTemplateMixin):
     bg_type_items = List().tag(sync=True)
     bg_type_selected = Unicode().tag(sync=True)
 
-    bg_trace_pixel = IntHandleEmpty(0).tag(sync=True)
+    bg_trace_pixel = FloatHandleEmpty(0).tag(sync=True)
 
-    bg_separation = IntHandleEmpty(0).tag(sync=True)
-    bg_width = IntHandleEmpty(0).tag(sync=True)
+    bg_separation = FloatHandleEmpty(0).tag(sync=True)
+    bg_width = FloatHandleEmpty(0).tag(sync=True)
 
     bg_results_label = Unicode().tag(sync=True)
     bg_results_label_default = Unicode().tag(sync=True)
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ class SpectralExtraction(PluginTemplateMixin):
     ext_type_items = List(['Boxcar', 'Horne']).tag(sync=True)
     ext_type_selected = Unicode('Boxcar').tag(sync=True)
 
-    ext_width = IntHandleEmpty(0).tag(sync=True)
+    ext_width = FloatHandleEmpty(0).tag(sync=True)
 
     ext_uncert_warn = Bool(False).tag(sync=True)
     ext_specreduce_err = Unicode().tag(sync=True)
diff --git a/jdaviz/configs/specviz2d/plugins/spectral_extraction/tests/test_spectral_extraction.py b/jdaviz/configs/specviz2d/plugins/spectral_extraction/tests/test_spectral_extraction.py
index 6c2dbf3ad1..ed0a5a18e6 100644
--- a/jdaviz/configs/specviz2d/plugins/spectral_extraction/tests/test_spectral_extraction.py
+++ b/jdaviz/configs/specviz2d/plugins/spectral_extraction/tests/test_spectral_extraction.py
@@ -73,8 +73,8 @@ def test_plugin(specviz2d_helper):
     assert len(bg.traces) == 1
     assert bg.traces[0].trace[0] == 28 + 4
     assert bg.width == 3
-    bg = pext.export_bg(bg_width=5)
-    assert bg.width == 5
+    bg = pext.export_bg(bg_width=3.3)
+    assert bg.width == 3.3
     bg.width = 4
     pext.import_bg(bg)
     assert pext.bg_width == 4