YDS to French grade conversion chart
Every YDS grade with its French equivalent, side by side. Where the two scales don't line up, you'll see a range.
Key conversions
- 5.9 = 5b/5c
- 5.10a = 5c/6a
- 5.10d = 6b+
- 5.11c = 6c+/7a
- 5.12a = 7a+
- 5.12c = 7b+
- 5.13a = 7c+
- 5.13d = 8b
- 5.14a = 8b+
- 5.15a = 9a+
| 5.6 | 4a/ | IV/ | 13 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.7 | 4b/ | IV+/ | 14/ |
| 5.8 | 4c+/ | V/ | 16 |
| 5.9 | 5b/ | V+/ | 17 |
| 5.10a | 5c/ | VI/ | 18 |
| 5.10b | 6a+ | VII− | 19 |
| 5.10c | 6b | VII | 20 |
| 5.10d | 6b+ | VII+ | 20 |
| 5.11a | 6b+/ | VII+/ | 21 |
| 5.11b | 6c/ | VII+/ | 22 |
| 5.11c | 6c+/ | VIII−/ | 23 |
| 5.11d | 7a/ | VIII/ | 23/ |
| 5.12a | 7a+ | VIII+ | 24 |
| 5.12b | 7b | VIII+/ | 25 |
| 5.12c | 7b+ | IX− | 26 |
| 5.12d | 7c | IX | 27 |
| 5.13a | 7c+ | IX+ | 28 |
| 5.13b | 8a | X− | 29 |
| 5.13c | 8a+ | X | 30 |
| 5.13d | 8b | X+ | 31 |
| 5.14a | 8b+ | X+/ | 32 |
| 5.14b | 8c | XI− | 33 |
| 5.14c | 8c+ | XI | 34 |
| 5.14d | 9a | XI | 35 |
| 5.15a | 9a+ | XI/ | 36 |
| 5.15b | 9b | XI+ | 37 |
| 5.15c | 9b+ | XI+/ | 38 |
| 5.15d | 9c | XII− | 39 |
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.
French grades are the sport climbing scale used across Europe and most of the world, from 3 to 9c, written in lowercase (6b+).