Reference

Climbing Grades Explained: YDS, French, V and Font

Grades describe how hard a climb is. Different countries and styles use different systems. This table shows rough equivalents; conversions are approximate and climbers often debate them.

A young climber gripping holds on a competition boulder wall

Youth Olympic bouldering, Buenos Aires 2018: Martin Rulsch, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Routes (rope climbing)

US (YDS)FrenchFeels like
5.6 to 5.85a to 5cBeginner friendly
5.10a6aSolid intermediate
5.11a6cExperienced
5.12a7a+Advanced
5.13a8aExpert
5.14a8b+Elite
5.15a9a+World class
5.15d9cHardest climbed (Silence, 2017)

Boulders

V-scaleFontFeels like
V04First problems
V25+Beginner progress
V46BIntermediate
V67AAdvanced
V87BExpert
V107C+Elite
V158CWorld class
V179AHardest proposed boulders

Indoor gyms often use their own colour systems. Start easy, climb lots of routes at one grade, and progress slowly to protect fingers and shoulders.

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Sources

Facts on this page were checked against these sources (updated Oct 12, 2026). Spot an error? Email hello@fireempireshop.com.

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