diff --git a/spec/ndx-events.extensions.yaml b/spec/ndx-events.extensions.yaml
index 236eaf5..56a3505 100644
--- a/spec/ndx-events.extensions.yaml
+++ b/spec/ndx-events.extensions.yaml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 datasets:
 - neurodata_type_def: TimestampVectorData
   neurodata_type_inc: VectorData
-  dtype: float64
+  dtype: float
   dims:
   - num_times
   shape:
@@ -13,13 +13,13 @@ datasets:
     value: seconds
     doc: The unit of measurement for the timestamps, fixed to 'seconds'.
   - name: resolution
-    dtype: float64
+    dtype: float
     doc: The smallest possible difference between two timestamps. Usually 1 divided
       by the sampling rate for timestamps of the data acquisition system.
     required: false
 - neurodata_type_def: DurationVectorData
   neurodata_type_inc: VectorData
-  dtype: float64
+  dtype: float
   dims:
   - num_events
   shape:
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ datasets:
     value: seconds
     doc: The unit of measurement for the durations, fixed to 'seconds'.
   - name: resolution
-    dtype: float64
+    dtype: float
     doc: The smallest possible difference between two timestamps. Usually 1 divided
       by the sampling rate for timestamps of the data acquisition system.
     required: false
diff --git a/src/spec/create_extension_spec.py b/src/spec/create_extension_spec.py
index 60bcecc..483920a 100644
--- a/src/spec/create_extension_spec.py
+++ b/src/spec/create_extension_spec.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ def main():
         neurodata_type_def="TimestampVectorData",
         neurodata_type_inc="VectorData",
         doc="A 1-dimensional VectorData that stores timestamps in seconds.",
-        dtype="float64",
+        dtype="float",
         dims=["num_times"],
         shape=[None],
         attributes=[
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ def main():
             # maybe this should be a column of the event type table instead?
             NWBAttributeSpec(
                 name="resolution",
-                dtype="float64",
+                dtype="float",
                 doc=(
                     "The smallest possible difference between two timestamps. Usually 1 divided by the "
                     "sampling rate for timestamps of the data acquisition system."
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ def main():
         neurodata_type_def="DurationVectorData",
         neurodata_type_inc="VectorData",
         doc="A 1-dimensional VectorData that stores durations in seconds.",
-        dtype="float64",
+        dtype="float",
         dims=["num_events"],
         shape=[None],
         attributes=[
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ def main():
             # NOTE: this is usually the same as the timestamp resolution
             NWBAttributeSpec(
                 name="resolution",
-                dtype="float64",
+                dtype="float",
                 doc=(
                     "The smallest possible difference between two timestamps. Usually 1 divided by the "
                     "sampling rate for timestamps of the data acquisition system."