French to YDS grade conversion chart
Every French grade with its YDS equivalent, side by side. Where the two scales don't line up, you'll see a range.
Key conversions
- 5c = 5.9/5.10a
- 6a = 5.10a
- 6b = 5.10c
- 6c = 5.11a/b
- 7a = 5.11c/d
- 7b = 5.12b
- 7c = 5.12d
- 8a = 5.13b
- 8b = 5.13d
- 9a = 5.14d
| 4a | 5.6 | IV | 13 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4a+ | 5.6 | IV+ | 13 |
| 4b | 5.6/ | IV+ | 13/ |
| 4b+ | 5.7 | V− | 14 |
| 4c | 5.7 | V− | 15 |
| 4c+ | 5.8 | V | 16 |
| 5a | 5.8 | V | 16 |
| 5a+ | 5.8 | V+ | 16 |
| 5b | 5.9 | V+ | 17 |
| 5b+ | 5.9 | VI− | 17 |
| 5c | 5.9/ | VI | 17/ |
| 5c+ | 5.10a | VI+ | 18 |
| 6a | 5.10a | VI+ | 18 |
| 6a+ | 5.10b | VII− | 19 |
| 6b | 5.10c | VII | 20 |
| 6b+ | 5.10d/ | VII+ | 20/ |
| 6c | 5.11a/ | VII+/ | 21/ |
| 6c+ | 5.11b/ | VIII− | 22/ |
| 7a | 5.11c/ | VIII | 23 |
| 7a+ | 5.11d/ | VIII+ | 24 |
| 7b | 5.12b | VIII+/ | 25 |
| 7b+ | 5.12c | IX− | 26 |
| 7c | 5.12d | IX | 27 |
| 7c+ | 5.13a | IX+ | 28 |
| 8a | 5.13b | X− | 29 |
| 8a+ | 5.13c | X | 30 |
| 8b | 5.13d | X+ | 31 |
| 8b+ | 5.14a | X+/ | 32 |
| 8c | 5.14b | XI− | 33 |
| 8c+ | 5.14c | XI | 34 |
| 9a | 5.14d | XI | 35 |
| 9a+ | 5.15a | XI/ | 36 |
| 9b | 5.15b | XI+ | 37 |
| 9b+ | 5.15c | XI+/ | 38 |
| 9c | 5.15d | XII− | 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+).
The Yosemite Decimal System (YDS) is used in North America. Roped climbs run from 5.0 to 5.15d, with letters a to d from 5.10 up.