YDS to British grade conversion chart
Every YDS grade with its British equivalent, side by side. Where the two scales don't line up, you'll see a range.
Key conversions
- 5.9 = HVS 5a
- 5.10a = E1 5a
- 5.10d = E2 5c
- 5.11c = E4 6a
- 5.12a = E5 6a
- 5.12c = E6 6b
- 5.13a = E6 6c
- 5.13d = E8 7a
- 5.14a = E8 7a
- 5.15a = E11 7b
| 5.6 | – | 4a/ | IV/ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.7 | – | 4b/ | IV+/ |
| 5.8 | HVS 4c | 4c+/ | V/ |
| 5.9 | HVS 5a | 5b/ | V+/ |
| 5.10a | E1 5a | 5c/ | VI/ |
| 5.10b | E1 5b | 6a+ | VII− |
| 5.10c | E2 5b | 6b | VII |
| 5.10d | E2 5c | 6b+ | VII+ |
| 5.11a | E3 5c | 6b+/ | VII+/ |
| 5.11b | E3 5c | 6c/ | VII+/ |
| 5.11c | E4 6a | 6c+/ | VIII−/ |
| 5.11d | E4 6a | 7a/ | VIII/ |
| 5.12a | E5 6a | 7a+ | VIII+ |
| 5.12b | E5 6b | 7b | VIII+/ |
| 5.12c | E6 6b | 7b+ | IX− |
| 5.12d | E6 6b | 7c | IX |
| 5.13a | E6 6c | 7c+ | IX+ |
| 5.13b | E7 6c | 8a | X− |
| 5.13c | E7 7a | 8a+ | X |
| 5.13d | E8 7a | 8b | X+ |
| 5.14a | E8 7a | 8b+ | X+/ |
| 5.14b | E9 7b | 8c | XI− |
| 5.14c | E9 7b | 8c+ | XI |
| 5.14d | E10 7b | 9a | XI |
| 5.15a | E11 7b | 9a+ | XI/ |
| 5.15b | – | 9b | XI+ |
| 5.15c | – | 9b+ | XI+/ |
| 5.15d | – | 9c | XII− |
Approximate. Conversions by OpenBeta sandbag; British from RockFax/theCrag tables.
About these grades
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.
British trad grades pair an adjectival grade for overall seriousness (E1 to E11) with a technical grade for the hardest move (5a to 7b).