YDS to Ewbank grade conversion chart
Every YDS grade with its Ewbank equivalent, side by side. Where the two scales don't line up, you'll see a range.
Key conversions
- 5.9 = 17
- 5.10a = 18
- 5.10d = 20
- 5.11c = 23
- 5.12a = 24
- 5.12c = 26
- 5.13a = 28
- 5.13d = 31
- 5.14a = 32
- 5.15a = 36
| 5.6 | 13 | 4a/ | IV/ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.7 | 14/ | 4b/ | IV+/ |
| 5.8 | 16 | 4c+/ | V/ |
| 5.9 | 17 | 5b/ | V+/ |
| 5.10a | 18 | 5c/ | VI/ |
| 5.10b | 19 | 6a+ | VII− |
| 5.10c | 20 | 6b | VII |
| 5.10d | 20 | 6b+ | VII+ |
| 5.11a | 21 | 6b+/ | VII+/ |
| 5.11b | 22 | 6c/ | VII+/ |
| 5.11c | 23 | 6c+/ | VIII−/ |
| 5.11d | 23/ | 7a/ | VIII/ |
| 5.12a | 24 | 7a+ | VIII+ |
| 5.12b | 25 | 7b | VIII+/ |
| 5.12c | 26 | 7b+ | IX− |
| 5.12d | 27 | 7c | IX |
| 5.13a | 28 | 7c+ | IX+ |
| 5.13b | 29 | 8a | X− |
| 5.13c | 30 | 8a+ | X |
| 5.13d | 31 | 8b | X+ |
| 5.14a | 32 | 8b+ | X+/ |
| 5.14b | 33 | 8c | XI− |
| 5.14c | 34 | 8c+ | XI |
| 5.14d | 35 | 9a | XI |
| 5.15a | 36 | 9a+ | XI/ |
| 5.15b | 37 | 9b | XI+ |
| 5.15c | 38 | 9b+ | XI+/ |
| 5.15d | 39 | 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.
Ewbank is the open-ended number scale used in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa (18, 21, 25…).