Saxon to French grade conversion chart
Every Saxon grade with its French equivalent, side by side. Where the two scales don't line up, you'll see a range.
Key conversions
- VI = 4c+
- VIIa = 5a/5b
- VIIc = 5c+/6a
- VIIIb = 6b
- IXa = 6c/6c+
- IXc = 7a+
- Xb = 7c
- XIb = 8a+
- XIIb = 8c+
| IV | 4a/ | 5.6 | IV/ |
|---|---|---|---|
| VI | 4c+ | 5.8 | V |
| VIIa | 5a/ | 5.8/ | V/ |
| VIIb | 5b+/ | 5.9/ | VI−/ |
| VIIc | 5c+/ | 5.10a | VI+ |
| VIIIa | 6a+ | 5.10b | VII− |
| VIIIb | 6b | 5.10c | VII |
| VIIIc | 6b+ | 5.10d/ | VII+ |
| IXa | 6c/ | 5.11a/ | VII+/ |
| IXb | 7a | 5.11c/ | VIII |
| IXc | 7a+ | 5.11d/ | VIII+ |
| Xa | 7b/ | 5.12b/ | VIII+/ |
| Xb | 7c | 5.12d | IX |
| Xc | 7c+/ | 5.13a/ | IX+/ |
| XIb | 8a+ | 5.13c | X |
| XIc | 8b/ | 5.13d/ | X+/ |
| XIIa | 8c | 5.14b | XI− |
| XIIb | 8c+ | 5.14c | XI |
| XIIc | 9a | 5.14d | XI |
| XIIIa | 9a+ | 5.15a | XI/ |
| XIIIb | 9b/ | 5.15b/ | XI+/ |
| XIIIc | 9c/ | 5.15d/ | XII−/ |
Approximate. Conversions by OpenBeta sandbag; British from RockFax/theCrag tables.
About these grades
Saxon grades are used in Saxony and the Czech sandstone areas, written in Roman numerals with a, b or c (VIIa, IXb).
French grades are the sport climbing scale used across Europe and most of the world, from 3 to 9c, written in lowercase (6b+).