A stepped-slope floating breakwater is developed to provide wave protection to small ports and harbours. The width of the structure can be enhanced by increasing the number of breakwater units that are placed side-by-side to each other. This produces three types of test model, i.e. single-row, double-row and triple-row breakwaters. The test models have been tested in monochromatic waves in a wave flume to determine their hydraulic performance in various wave conditions. The incident and reflected wave profiles in the vicinity of the test models are recorded and analysed by using moving-probe method. The hydraulic performance of the test models are quantified by the coefficients of transmission, reflection and energy loss. The experimental results showed that the stepped-slope floating breakwater is an effective anti-reflection structure and a reasonably good wave attenuator. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd.