Climbing Grade Converter
Convert climbing grades between YDS (American), French, UIAA, Ewbank, V-scale, and Font bouldering systems instantly. See the visual grade ladder and where your grade ranks among all climbers. Nothing uploaded.
Grading system
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Understanding climbing grades
How grade conversions work
Different climbing regions use different grading systems, but they all measure difficulty on roughly the same scale. Sport climbing (rope) grades are typically harder across most systems than bouldering grades at the same numerical level. This calculator maps grades across six different systems - YDS, French, UIAA, Ewbank, V-scale, and Font - using a shared difficulty progression, so a 5.10a in YDS converts to roughly 6a in French grade.
Sport climbing vs. bouldering grades
Sport climbing grades measure a climber's ability to lead a full rope route using protection. Bouldering grades (V-scale, Font) measure short wall problems without ropes. A V7 boulder problem is typically harder than a 5.12b sport route due to the intensity required in a short burst versus sustained climbing for 20 minutes. Always compare sport grades to sport grades and boulder grades to boulder grades.
FAQ
What does the percentile rank mean?
The percentile shows where your grade ranks among all climbers globally. A grade at 75th percentile means you climb harder than about 75% of the climbing population. Higher percentiles represent rarer, more elite climbers.
Why do some climbers prefer onsight attempts over flash attempts?
Onsight (no prior knowledge of the route) is considered a purer test of climbing ability than flash (where you've seen the beta/movements once). Onsight grades are typically a full grade or more harder than your redpoint (top-rope) grade.
Are climbing grades standardized worldwide?
No, but they correlate closely. Within a region, grades are reasonably consistent - a 6a French grade in France should be similar to a 6a in Italy. However, different countries and setters may apply grades differently, so always warm up on easier climbs when visiting a new gym or crag.