Climbing Grade Converter
Convert sport routes, traditional climbs, and bouldering problems across international grading standards. Find your target grade, or check what your local indoor project translates to outdoors.
| Sport & Trad Climbing | Bouldering | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USA (YDS) | French | UIAA | USA (V-Scale) | Europe (Font) |
| 5.4 | 4a | IV+ | VB | 3 |
| 5.5 | 4b | V- | VB | 3+ |
| 5.6 | 4c | V | V0- | 4- |
| 5.7 | 5a | V+ | V0 | 4 |
| 5.8 | 5b | VI- | V0+ | 4+ |
| 5.9 | 5c | VI | V1 | 5 |
| 5.10a | 6a | VI+ | V2 | 5+ |
| 5.10b | 6a+ | VII- | V2 | 6A |
| 5.10c | 6b | VII | V3 | 6A+ |
| 5.10d | 6b+ | VII+ | V3 | 6B |
| 5.11a | 6c | VIII- | V4 | 6B+ |
| 5.11b | 6c+ | VIII | V4 | 6C |
| 5.11c | 7a | VIII+ | V5 | 6C+ |
| 5.11d | 7a+ | IX- | V5 | 7A |
| 5.12a | 7b | IX | V6 | 7A+ |
| 5.12b | 7b+ | IX | V6 | 7A+ |
| 5.12c | 7c | IX+ | V7 | 7B |
| 5.12d | 7c+ | X- | V8 | 7B+ |
| 5.13a | 8a | X- | V9 | 7C |
| 5.13b | 8a | X | V10 | 7C+ |
| 5.13c | 8a+ | X | V11 | 8A |
| 5.13d | 8b | X+ | V12 | 8A+ |
| 5.14a | 8b+ | X+ | V13 | 8B |
| 5.14b | 8c | XI- | V14 | 8B+ |
| 5.14c | 8c+ | XI | V15 | 8C |
| 5.14d | 9a | XI+ | V16 | 8C+ |
Subjectivity and Grade Drift
Climbing grades are famously subjective. What feels like a 5.9 at one crag might feel like a 5.11 at another. This chart represents the consensus median translation, but you should always account for local context.
Older climbing areas, particularly those styled before the 1990s, often have stiffer grading. A 5.7 established in Yosemite during the 1960s will feel entirely different from a 5.7 bolted at a modern sport crag. This phenomenon is commonly referred to by climbers as "sandbagging." Keep regional nuances in mind when visiting a historical crag for the first time.
Gym vs. Outdoor Conversion
Indoor climbing gyms try to align their grading with outdoor scales, but the nature of plastic holds makes true comparison difficult. Gyms reset regular routes and color-coded circuits to keep members engaged. They often grade softer on the lower end to give beginners a clear path of progression.
When transitioning from gym climbing to outdoor rock, expect to knock one or two full number grades off your indoor max. Real rock demands route finding, coping with awkward feet, dealing with weather, and adjusting to older bolt spacing or traditional gear placements. Do not assume your indoor benchmark will translate perfectly on your first outdoor trip. Start easy and work your way up to learn the character of the crag.
A Note on Morpho Routes
You will occasionally run into climbs marked "morpho" or experience routes that feel radically graded for your body type. Long reaches benefit taller climbers, while bunched, cramped sequences often favor those with smaller frames. Grade conversions are based on average heights and arm spans. If a problem forces you into a box that breaks your mechanical advantage, standard comparisons break down.