French to UIAA grade conversion chart
Every French grade with its UIAA equivalent, side by side. Where the two scales don't line up, you'll see a range.
Key conversions
- 5c = VI
- 6a = VI+
- 6b = VII
- 6c = VII+/VIII−
- 7a = VIII
- 7b = VIII+/IX−
- 7c = IX
- 8a = X−
- 8b = X+
- 9a = XI
| 4a | IV | 5.6 | 13 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4a+ | IV+ | 5.6 | 13 |
| 4b | IV+ | 5.6/ | 13/ |
| 4b+ | V− | 5.7 | 14 |
| 4c | V− | 5.7 | 15 |
| 4c+ | V | 5.8 | 16 |
| 5a | V | 5.8 | 16 |
| 5a+ | V+ | 5.8 | 16 |
| 5b | V+ | 5.9 | 17 |
| 5b+ | VI− | 5.9 | 17 |
| 5c | VI | 5.9/ | 17/ |
| 5c+ | VI+ | 5.10a | 18 |
| 6a | VI+ | 5.10a | 18 |
| 6a+ | VII− | 5.10b | 19 |
| 6b | VII | 5.10c | 20 |
| 6b+ | VII+ | 5.10d/ | 20/ |
| 6c | VII+/ | 5.11a/ | 21/ |
| 6c+ | VIII− | 5.11b/ | 22/ |
| 7a | VIII | 5.11c/ | 23 |
| 7a+ | VIII+ | 5.11d/ | 24 |
| 7b | VIII+/ | 5.12b | 25 |
| 7b+ | IX− | 5.12c | 26 |
| 7c | IX | 5.12d | 27 |
| 7c+ | IX+ | 5.13a | 28 |
| 8a | X− | 5.13b | 29 |
| 8a+ | X | 5.13c | 30 |
| 8b | X+ | 5.13d | 31 |
| 8b+ | X+/ | 5.14a | 32 |
| 8c | XI− | 5.14b | 33 |
| 8c+ | XI | 5.14c | 34 |
| 9a | XI | 5.14d | 35 |
| 9a+ | XI/ | 5.15a | 36 |
| 9b | XI+ | 5.15b | 37 |
| 9b+ | XI+/ | 5.15c | 38 |
| 9c | XII− | 5.15d | 39 |
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+).
UIAA grades are used in Germany, Austria and the Alps, written in Roman numerals (VI+, VII−) up to XII.