Climbing Grade Converter
V-Scale to Font, both directions, no fluff. Pick a grade — the other side translates instantly.
Full V-Scale to Font conversion chart
| V-Scale | Font | What it feels like |
|---|---|---|
| VB | 3 – 4 | First session territory — big holds, ladder moves |
| V0 | 4 / 4+ | Beginner — jugs, straightforward feet |
| V1 | 5 / 5+ | Confident beginner — smaller holds appear |
| V2 | 5+ / 6A | The first "problems that fight back" |
| V3 | 6A / 6A+ | Regular gym climber after a few months |
| V4 | 6B / 6B+ | The classic first plateau — technique required |
| V5 | 6C / 6C+ | Intermediate — body tension and real crimps |
| V6 | 7A | The grade every gym climber chases |
| V7 | 7A+ | Advanced — training starts to matter |
| V8 | 7B / 7B+ | Strong — years of mileage behind it |
| V9 | 7B+ / 7C | The border of the elite amateur world |
| V10 | 7C+ | Double digits — a lifetime goal for most |
| V11 | 8A | Elite amateur / sponsored territory |
| V12 | 8A+ | Semi-pro |
| V13 | 8B | Professional |
| V14 | 8B+ | World-class |
| V15 | 8C | A handful of climbers per generation |
| V16 | 8C+ | The current frontier |
| V17 | 9A | The hardest confirmed boulders on Earth |
How the two scales work
The V-Scale (from "Vermin", John Sherman's nickname) was born in Hueco Tanks, Texas. It's open-ended, linear, and used across the USA and most gyms worldwide. The Font scale comes from Fontainebleau, France — the oldest bouldering area in the world — and mixes numbers, letters and pluses (6A, 6A+, 6B…). Neither is "more accurate": they're two languages describing the same pain.
Why every conversion is approximate
Grades are consensus, not physics. A Font 6B in Fontainebleau might shut down a V5 gym climber — outdoor grades are notoriously harder than indoor ones, and every area has its own history of sandbagging. Treat this chart as a translator, not a promise: if you're heading outside for the first time, read our gym-to-crag guide and expect to drop two or three V-grades. That's normal, and it's temporary.
Quick answers
What is V4 in Font grades?
V4 converts to roughly Font 6B / 6B+. It's the classic "first plateau" grade in both systems.
Is a gym V4 the same as an outdoor V4?
Almost never. Gym grading is softer — most climbers lose 2–3 V-grades on their first outdoor trips before adapting to real rock.
What's the hardest boulder grade in the world?
As of today, V17 (Font 9A) is the top of the confirmed scale, with only a few problems in the world at that grade.
What grade should a beginner aim for?
VB–V2 covers your first months, and that's exactly where it should be. The tribe respects the attempt more than the number — that's kind of our whole thing.
Built free for the tribe by CRACX — the people behind the Ascend bouldering chalk bucket. More straight talk on Field Notes.