Scoville Scale Pepper Heat Chart: Compare Pepper Spiciness Levels

Scoville Scale Pepper Heat Chart: Compare Pepper Spiciness Levels

Explore the complete Scoville scale pepper heat chart to compare spiciness levels of common peppers. This visual guide helps you choose the right pepper for your dish without unexpected heat surprises.

Various types of hot peppers arranged in order of spiciness

Scoville Scale Pepper Heat Chart

Pepper Type Scoville Heat Units (SHU) Heat Level
Bell Pepper 0 SHU Mild
Jalapeño 2,500–8,000 SHU Moderate
Hatch Green Chile 1,000–8,000 SHU Moderate
Cayenne 30,000–50,000 SHU Hot
Habanero 100,000–350,000 SHU Very Hot
Ghost Pepper (Bhut Jolokia) 1,000,000+ SHU Extremely Hot
Scoville scale comparison chart

The Scoville Scale measures pepper heat intensity based on capsaicin concentration. Higher SHU values indicate greater spiciness. Use this chart to select peppers that match your desired heat level for cooking, sauces, or culinary experiments.

Lisa Chang

Lisa Chang

A well-traveled food writer who has spent the last eight years documenting authentic spice usage in regional cuisines worldwide. Lisa's unique approach combines culinary with hands-on cooking experience, revealing how spices reflect cultural identity across different societies. Lisa excels at helping home cooks understand the cultural context of spices while providing practical techniques for authentic flavor recreation.