Climbing grade converter
Type a grade in any of these systems, one per line, and see the nearest grades in the others. Grade systems do not match exactly, so treat every result as approximate.
Runs in your browser: nothing you enter is sent anywhere.
How to use it
- Type one grade per line. French sport (6a+), Yosemite Decimal System (5.10c) and UIAA in Roman (VII+) or Arabic (7+) numerals are recognised.
- Read the equivalent grades in all the systems. Ranges mean that several grades of one system share a grade in another.
The comparison chart
| French |
YDS |
UIAA |
| 5a |
5.8 |
V |
| 5c |
5.10a |
VI- |
| 6a |
5.10b |
VI |
| 6b |
5.10d |
VII- |
| 6c |
5.11b |
VII |
| 7a |
5.11d |
VII+ |
| 7b |
5.12b |
VIII |
| 7c |
5.12d |
VIII+ |
| 8a |
5.13b |
IX |
| 8b |
5.13d |
X- |
| 8c |
5.14b |
X |
| 9a |
5.14d |
XI- |
| 9c |
5.15d |
XII- |
This is a commonly used chart, not an official standard, and the UIAA and British technical columns are the least exact. The converter holds the full chart from French 3 to 9c.
Worked example
French 6a+ converts to YDS 5.10c and UIAA VI+. The reverse reading of YDS 5.12a gives French 7a+ and UIAA VIII-.
Tips
Compare grades inside one crag or region rather than across countries. Indoor gyms often grade softer or harder than outdoor routes; the chart does not correct for that.
Frequently asked questions
Are climbing grades exactly interchangeable?
No. The systems measure difficulty differently and areas differ in how strictly they grade. Charts place grades side by side by common agreement, and a route can feel a half-step apart in another country. Use the result as a guide, not a rule.
How do I read a French grade like 7a+?
The number is the main level, the letter a to c splits it into thirds, and a plus makes it a little harder. Order from easier to harder: 7a, 7a+, 7b, 7b+, 7c, 7c+, 8a.
Why are some results a range?
When the target system has fewer steps than the source, a single grade covers several neighbours - UIAA VII-, for example, spans French 6b and 6b+. The range shows that overlap.
Why is the British technical grade often blank?
British technical grades (4a, 5b, 6a ...) describe the hardest move on traditional routes and only cover the lower part of the chart. They are shown only where the chart gives a rough match.