VeraclimbGuide · Bouldering grades
V Scale ↔ Font grade converter
Instant conversion between the V scale (Hueco, used in the US and most gyms) and Font (Fontainebleau, used across Europe) — with the honest caveat that every conversion is approximate.
The full conversion chart
| V scale (Hueco) | Font (Fontainebleau) |
|---|---|
| VB | 3 – 4 |
| V0 | 4 – 4+ |
| V1 | 5 |
| V2 | 5+ |
| V3 | 6A – 6A+ |
| V4 | 6B – 6B+ |
| V5 | 6C – 6C+ |
| V6 | 7A |
| V7 | 7A+ |
| V8 | 7B – 7B+ |
| V9 | 7C |
| V10 | 7C+ |
| V11 | 8A |
| V12 | 8A+ |
| V13 | 8B |
| V14 | 8B+ |
| V15 | 8C |
| V16 | 8C+ |
| V17 | 9A |
Honest caveat: the two scales are consensus systems that grew up on different continents; they don't map 1:1. Where a row shows a range, community opinion genuinely spans it. A "hard for the grade" V5 overlaps an "easy" 7A. Use the chart as a translation aid, not a law of physics.
Why conversions are approximate
Both scales are open-ended, non-linear, and settled by consensus rather than measurement. Font subdivides the mid-grades more finely than the V scale (three Font steps — 6A, 6A+, 6B — span roughly two V grades), so any chart has to squash or stretch somewhere. On top of that, benchmark problems drift: the same climb can carry different grades on different apps and guidebooks.
The practical fix is consistency: pick one scale, log every send in it, and watch your own progression instead of arguing about equivalences. Your pyramid doesn't care which scale it's printed in.
Frequently asked
What is V5 in Font?
Roughly 6C–6C+. A hard V5 can feel like an easy 7A.
Are gym grades the same as outdoor grades?
Usually not — most gyms grade softer than outdoor consensus, and many use color circuits or ranges (V2–V4) precisely because exact grading is hard. Comparing gym-to-gym is even less reliable than V-to-Font.
What does the "V" stand for?
John "Vermin" Sherman, who developed the scale at Hueco Tanks, Texas. It's open-ended — V17 is the current ceiling.
Track your grades, not just convert them. Veraclimb logs a send in one tap and builds your grade pyramid across the V scale — free, no account, on-device. See how it works →