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