def value_to_float(x: str):
    """
    Converts strings with abbreviated numbers to floats

    >>> value_to_float('1.2k')
    1200.0
    """
    if type(x) == float or type(x) == int:
        return x
    x = x.upper()
    x = x.replace(',', '')
    if 'K' in x:
        if len(x) > 1:
            return float(x.replace('K', '')) * 1000
        return 1000.0
    if 'M' in x:
        if len(x) > 1:
            return float(x.replace('M', '')) * 1000000
        return 1000000.0
    if 'B' in x:
        return float(x.replace('B', '')) * 1000000000
    return float(x)