Last updated: 3 October 2026
Reviewed by Jordan Morley, FA Level 2 Football Coach
The Fontainebleau (Font) scale is the dominant bouldering grading system in Europe. Grades run from 1 to 9A, with sub-grades A/B/C and optional + symbols. Font 6A (roughly V3) is often seen as a solid intermediate benchmark; Font 7A (V7) is advanced; Font 8A (V11) is elite. The Forest of Fontainebleau in France is considered the birthplace of modern bouldering, and its grade system is used across Europe and increasingly globally as an alternative to the V-scale.
- Dominant bouldering scale in Europe
- Named after Fontainebleau forest, France
- Sub-grades: A, B, C with + modifiers
- Font 6A ≈ V3; Font 7A ≈ V7
In practice
The Fontainebleau (font) scale rates bouldering problems using a number-letter combination (like 6A, 7B+) that climbers in Europe use as the standard reference, roughly comparable to but not perfectly interchangeable with the American V-scale — many climbing gyms and guidebooks list both scales side by side, since climbers trained in one system often need a working familiarity with the other when traveling or competing internationally.
FAQ
How does the font scale differ from the V-scale?
Both rate bouldering difficulty, but the font (Fontainebleau) scale originated in Europe and uses a number-letter format (e.g. 6A, 7B+), while the American V-scale uses simple numbers (V0, V5); approximate conversion charts exist between them though they aren't perfectly equivalent at every grade.
Where did the Fontainebleau grading scale originate?
It takes its name from the Fontainebleau forest near Paris, a historic bouldering area where the grading system was developed and popularized before spreading to become a standard reference used across much of Europe and internationally.