Key takeaways
- The V-scale rates bouldering difficulty in the US, starting at V0 and rising (currently to ~V17).
- Each higher number is a step up in difficulty; it's open-ended at the top.
- It grades boulder problems specifically, unlike the YDS (5.x) used for roped routes.
- It corresponds roughly to Europe's Font (Fontainebleau) bouldering scale.
Named after boulderer John 'Vermin' Sherman (the 'V').
What the V-scale is
The V-scale is the system used in the United States to grade the difficulty of bouldering problems. It’s open-ended, starting at V0 (easiest) and rising — V1, V2, and so on — currently to around V17 at the elite end. Each higher number is a meaningful step up in difficulty. It was named after boulderer John ‘Vermin’ Sherman.
How it works
The V-scale grades boulder problems specifically, separate from the YDS (5.x) used for roped routes. Some gyms use VB or ‘V-easy’ below V0 for beginners, and the top end keeps rising as climbers establish harder problems.
A new boulderer warms up on V0 and V1 problems and projects a V3, while across the gym an elite climber works a V12 — the single number telling everyone exactly how hard each problem is relative to the others.
V-scale vs Font
Internationally, bouldering uses the Font (Fontainebleau) scale, which corresponds closely to the V-scale (e.g., V4 ≈ Font 6B+). See V-scale vs Font and our grade converter for translating between systems.
The bottom line
The V-scale is the US's open-ended bouldering grading system — V0 at the easy end rising to about V17 at the cutting edge — and the bouldering counterpart to the YDS used for roped routes. Internationally it corresponds to the Font scale, so a conversion gets you close. Know your V-grade and you can gauge problems anywhere they use it.
Frequently asked questions
What is the V-scale in bouldering?
The V-scale is the United States' system for grading the difficulty of bouldering problems. It starts at V0 for the easiest problems and increases — V1, V2, and so on — currently reaching about V17 at the elite level. The higher the number, the harder the problem. It's used specifically for bouldering, not roped routes.
Where does the V-scale start, and is there a top?
It starts at V0 (some gyms use VB or V-easy below that for beginners), and it's open-ended at the top, currently topping out around V17 with the world's hardest problems. New, harder problems can push the ceiling higher over time, as has happened repeatedly as the sport advances.
How does the V-scale compare to the Font scale?
The V-scale (US) and the Font/Fontainebleau scale (Europe) both grade bouldering and correspond closely — for example, V4 is roughly Font 6B+. The Font scale uses numbers with letters and '+' (like 7A+) and is the main system outside the US. Conversion charts and tools translate between them, though the match isn't always exact. See our V-scale vs Font comparison.
Sources
- Bouldering grades — American Alpine Club
- Grading systems — UIAA