diff --git a/utils.py b/utils.py
index ad7f28f8dba..5e1b964debc 100644
--- a/utils.py
+++ b/utils.py
@@ -323,6 +323,17 @@ def env_int(key: str, default: int = 0) -> int:
         return default
 
 
+def env_float(key: str, default: float = 0.0) -> float:
+    """Read an environment variable as a float, with fallback."""
+    raw = os.getenv(key, "").strip()
+    if not raw:
+        return default
+    try:
+        return float(raw)
+    except (ValueError, TypeError):
+        return default
+
+
 def env_bool(key: str, default: bool = False) -> bool:
     """Read an environment variable as a boolean."""
     return is_truthy_value(os.getenv(key, ""), default=default)