A rock climbing grade converter translates climbing difficulty between the major international rating systems. When you climb in Europe or Australia, the French and EWBANK grades won't match your Yosemite Decimal System training. This converter lets you look up any grade and instantly see its equivalent across all five systems.
Grade Lookup
Full Grade Conversion Chart
Conversions are approximate — grading styles vary by country and crag
| YDS | French | UIAA | EWBANK (AU) | British Tech | Description |
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How to Convert Rock Climbing Grades Between Systems
There is no universal rock climbing grade system — different countries developed their own scales independently. When you travel internationally to climb, knowing the equivalents helps you pick appropriate routes and communicate your level to local climbers.
Step 1: Use the Lookup Tool
Select your home system and grade in the dropdown above. The converter instantly shows the equivalent grades in all other systems. Use this when planning a trip or reading route information from a foreign guidebook. Note that these are approximate conversions — the "difficulty" of a grade varies significantly by route style.
Step 2: Understand Why Grades Vary
The same numerical French grade can feel very different on a sandstone face in France versus a limestone cave in Spain. Grades reflect consensus among the climbing community at a specific crag — they are subjective. A 6c at one crag may feel like 6b+ at another due to hold type, steepness, and style. Use grades as starting points, not absolutes.
Step 3: Downgrade for Safety
When visiting a new area, start 1–2 grades below your maximum. Local grades may be stiffer or the style may not suit you. A YDS 5.10d climber visiting France for the first time should start on 6a routes (equivalent), not 6b routes. This gives you time to adapt to local style, rock type, and bolt spacing before pushing your grade.
Understanding the Grade Systems
The Yosemite Decimal System (YDS) is used in North America, starting at 5.0 and extending to 5.15d. The French system uses numbers and letters (4 through 9c+) and is used throughout Europe. UIAA uses Roman numerals (III–XII). The Australian EWBANK scale uses plain numbers (1–35+). British grades use a combination of technical grade and adjectival grade (VS, HVS, E1–E11).
FAQ
Is this climbing grade converter free?
Yes, completely free with no signup required. Convert between all major grading systems instantly.
Is my data safe and private?
Yes. This is a reference tool that runs entirely in your browser. No data is sent to any server.
What is the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS)?
The YDS is the standard climbing grade system in North America. Class 5 is technical rock climbing requiring a rope, starting at 5.0 (easiest) through 5.15d (hardest currently achieved). The scale was extended with letter grades (a/b/c/d) for 5.10 and above to provide finer distinctions.
How does the French climbing grade system work?
The French numeric system goes from 3 (easy) through 9c (current world hardest). Each number has + and suffix variations (e.g., 6a, 6a+, 6b, 6b+, 6c, 6c+). The French system is used throughout Europe, and many international climbing destinations use it. YDS 5.10a roughly equals French 6a.
What does 5.10 equal in French grades?
5.10a ≈ 6a, 5.10b ≈ 6a+, 5.10c ≈ 6b, 5.10d ≈ 6b+. These conversions are approximate — the same climber may find a 5.10b route harder than expected due to style differences (crimpy vs. juggy, overhanging vs. slab).
What is the hardest climbing grade ever done?
As of 2026, 9c in the French system (approximately 5.15d in YDS) is the hardest grade achieved. Only a handful of climbers have climbed 9b+ (5.15c). These grades represent the absolute limit of human achievement on rock.