A floor panel for forming a floor covering includes coupling parts on at least one pair of opposite arranged to allow that two of such floor panels can be joined by means of a downward movement (M) of one floor panel in respect to the other floor panel. The coupling parts allow a locking in a first direction perpendicular to the plane of the floor panels as well as in a second direction perpendicular to the respective edge and in the plane of the floor panels. A longitudinal recess located on at least one of the edges is present underneath the upper surface with a locking element. The shape and/or the position of the recess and/or the configuration of the coupling parts is such that deformations are avoided.