Rock Climbing Grade Converter
Note: Grades are subjective and vary by region. All conversions are community-consensus approximations.
Select a Grade to Convert
Choose your discipline (Roped or Bouldering), select your grade system, then pick a grade to see all international equivalents instantly.
Full Grade Reference Table
Expand to view the complete cross-reference table for all grades and systems side by side.
How to Use the Rock Climbing Grade Converter
Choose Your Discipline
Click 'Roped Climbing' for sport, trad, or any route where you use a rope and clips or gear. Click 'Bouldering' for unroped boulder problems up to around 6 meters high. The available grade systems and grades will change to match your selection.
Select Your Grade System
Choose the grading system you already know — for example, YDS if you climb in the USA, French if you climb in Europe, or Ewbank if you climb in Australia. The grade dropdown will then show all valid grades in that system.
Pick Your Grade
Select the specific grade from the dropdown. Results appear instantly, showing the equivalent grade in every other major international system, plus the difficulty band label (Novice, Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Expert, Super Expert, Elite, Super Elite, or Aliens) and your grade's position on the overall difficulty spectrum.
Explore the Full Reference Table
Click 'Show Full Reference Table' to see a complete side-by-side comparison of all grades across all systems. Your selected grade is highlighted in the table. Use 'Copy All Equivalents' to copy the conversion result to your clipboard for sharing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between YDS and French grades?
YDS (Yosemite Decimal System) is the standard in North America, using decimal notation like 5.10a, 5.11c, 5.14d. French grades are the international standard for sport climbing, using numbers and letters like 6a, 7b+, 8c. Both systems roughly overlap in difficulty: 5.10a (YDS) ≈ 6a (French), 5.12a ≈ 7b, 5.14a ≈ 8c. However, grading philosophies differ slightly — French grades are generally considered slightly stiff (harder relative to equivalent YDS), though this varies by climbing area and the setter's personal style.
Why does the British system use two grades?
The British trad grading system uses an adjectival grade (M, D, VD, S, HS, VS, HVS, E1–E11) to reflect the overall seriousness of the route — taking into account gear quality, potential fall consequences, route length, and psychological commitment — alongside a technical grade (3a through 9b) that rates only the hardest individual move. A route's adjectival and technical grades can be mismatched: a well-protected E2 might have a difficult 6b crux, while an E4 might only have a 6a crux but with terrible gear. This dual system captures aspects of risk and commitment that pure movement grades ignore.
How does V-Scale compare to Font for bouldering?
The Hueco V-Scale (American) and Fontainebleau Font system (French) are the two dominant bouldering grade systems worldwide. They are generally comparable: V0 ≈ Font 4, V3 ≈ Font 6A, V6 ≈ Font 7A, V10 ≈ Font 7C+, V15 ≈ Font 8C. In practice, the Font system is considered slightly coarser (fewer distinct grades at moderate levels) while the V-Scale is more granular. Most indoor bouldering gyms in the US and UK use color-coded tape rather than either system, but Font grades are increasingly common in European gyms and the IFSC World Cup uses Font.
Are climbing grades consistent worldwide?
No — and this is the single most important thing to understand about grade conversion. The same numerical French grade can feel significantly different between a sandbagged Spanish sport crag, a well-equipped French limestone cliff, and a granite face in Sardinia. Regional grading culture, rock type, hold style, and the personal tendencies of the first ascentionist all affect the final grade. Even within a single country, grades at different crags are rarely consistent. This is why experienced climbers always read recent trip reports and local guides rather than relying solely on grade comparisons when visiting a new area.
What difficulty band should a beginner aim for?
Complete beginners typically start in the Novice band (YDS 5.0–5.4, French 1–4a, Font 3–4) for their very first sessions, which involves mostly scrambling and easy angled faces. After a few sessions, most beginners progress into the Beginner band (YDS 5.5–5.7, French 4b–5a, Font 4–5), which is the typical range for introductory outdoor climbing and beginner gym routes. The Intermediate band (YDS 5.8–5.10b, French 5b–6a+, Font 5–6A) represents a typical recreational gym climber who climbs regularly. Reaching the Advanced band (5.10c–5.11c / French 6b–7a) usually requires dedicated training over months to years.
What is the hardest grade ever climbed?
The current frontier of free climbing difficulty is 9c (French) / 5.15d (YDS), which our table labels as 'Aliens' — climbed by fewer than a handful of people in history. As of 2025, Silence (9c, Flatanger Cave, Norway) by Adam Ondra remains the hardest confirmed sport route in the world. In bouldering, V17 / Font 9A represents the outer edge: Burden of Dreams (Nattavaara, Finland) by Nalle Hukkataival was the first confirmed V17. At these grades, the routes are often unrepeated or have very few repeats, making consensus grading nearly impossible.