How Hot is Your Pepper?
Use our Scoville Heat Unit (SHU) calculator to analyze spiciness levels and compare them against the classic Jalapeño.
Heat Level
Medium
Comparison
Equal to a Jalapeño
Classic spicy kick.
The Pepper Library
Explore the Scoville Scale with our comprehensive database of popular peppers, from the sweet Bell Pepper to the record-breaking Pepper X.
Bell Pepper
Heat Range (SHU)
0
The mildest of them all. Sweet and crunchy with zero heat.
Banana Pepper
Heat Range (SHU)
0 - 500
A mild, tangy pepper often found in sandwiches and salads.
Poblano
Heat Range (SHU)
1,000 - 1,500
A mild chili pepper originating from the state of Puebla, Mexico.
Jalapeño
Heat Range (SHU)
2,500 - 8,000
The classic standard for spicy heat. Versatile and widely loved.
Serrano
Heat Range (SHU)
10,000 - 23,000
Similar to jalapeños but smaller and noticeably hotter.
Cayenne
Heat Range (SHU)
30,000 - 50,000
Commonly used in dried powder form to add heat to dishes.
Thai Chili (Bird's Eye)
Heat Range (SHU)
50,000 - 100,000
Small but mighty, a staple in Southeast Asian cuisine.
Habanero
Heat Range (SHU)
100,000 - 350,000
A popular hot pepper known for its fruity, floral aroma and intense heat.
Scotch Bonnet
Heat Range (SHU)
100,000 - 350,000
Closely related to the habanero, essential in Caribbean cooking.
Ghost Pepper (Bhut Jolokia)
Heat Range (SHU)
855,000 - 1,041,427
Once the world's hottest pepper, famous for its slow-building, long-lasting heat.
Carolina Reaper
Heat Range (SHU)
1,400,000 - 2,200,000
The former Guinness World Record holder. Wicked heat with a sweet undertone.
Pepper X
Heat Range (SHU)
2,693,000
The current world's hottest pepper. Nuclear levels of heat.