Ewbank to French grade conversion chart
Every Ewbank grade with its French equivalent, side by side. Where the two scales don't line up, you'll see a range.
Key conversions
- 16 = 4c+/5a+
- 18 = 5c/6a
- 20 = 6b/6b+
- 22 = 6c/6c+
- 24 = 7a+
- 26 = 7b+
- 28 = 7c+
- 30 = 8a+
- 32 = 8b+
- 35 = 9a
| 13 | 4a/ | 5.6 | IV/ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | 4b/ | 5.7 | IV+/ |
| 15 | 4c | 5.7 | V− |
| 16 | 4c+/ | 5.8 | V/ |
| 17 | 5b/ | 5.9 | V+/ |
| 18 | 5c/ | 5.10a | VI/ |
| 19 | 6a+ | 5.10b | VII− |
| 20 | 6b/ | 5.10c/ | VII/ |
| 21 | 6b+/ | 5.11a | VII+/ |
| 22 | 6c/ | 5.11b | VII+/ |
| 23 | 6c+/ | 5.11c/ | VIII−/ |
| 24 | 7a+ | 5.11d/ | VIII+ |
| 25 | 7b | 5.12b | VIII+/ |
| 26 | 7b+ | 5.12c | IX− |
| 27 | 7c | 5.12d | IX |
| 28 | 7c+ | 5.13a | IX+ |
| 29 | 8a | 5.13b | X− |
| 30 | 8a+ | 5.13c | X |
| 31 | 8b | 5.13d | X+ |
| 32 | 8b+ | 5.14a | X+/ |
| 33 | 8c | 5.14b | XI− |
| 34 | 8c+ | 5.14c | XI |
| 35 | 9a | 5.14d | XI |
| 36 | 9a+ | 5.15a | XI/ |
| 37 | 9b | 5.15b | XI+ |
| 38 | 9b+ | 5.15c | XI+/ |
| 39 | 9c | 5.15d | XII− |
Approximate. Conversions by OpenBeta sandbag; British from RockFax/theCrag tables.
About these grades
Ewbank is the open-ended number scale used in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa (18, 21, 25…).
French grades are the sport climbing scale used across Europe and most of the world, from 3 to 9c, written in lowercase (6b+).