Scoville Scale Calculator – Free Spicy Food Heat Calculator

Chile Pepper Heat Calculator

Calculate your dish's spiciness in Scoville Heat Units (SHU). Our calculator uses real data from Wikidata and scientific research to give you accurate heat estimates. Add your peppers, choose your cooking method, and see how spicy your food will be!

Add Your Ingredients

Search for Chile Peppers

Quantity

How Much?

Dish Details

Cooking Method Cooking method affects heat retention

How Much Are You Making? Pick a size or enter your own amount

Number of Servings

Looking for pepper substitutes? Check out our Pepper Substitute Finder →

How We Calculate Heat Levels

Our calculator uses a simple 4-step process to figure out how spicy your dish will be. Here's how it works:

Add Up Your Peppers

We start by adding up the heat from all the peppers you use. Each pepper has a Scoville rating that tells us how spicy it is.

Example:
2 jalapeños = 5,000 SHU each
Total = 10,000 SHU

Cooking Changes Heat

How you cook your peppers affects their spiciness. Boiling makes them milder, while frying makes them hotter!

Example:
Boiling = -15% heat
10,000 SHU → 8,500 SHU

Mix Into Your Food

The more food you make, the more the heat gets spread out. A big pot of soup will be less spicy than a small bowl.

Example:
4 cups of soup spreads out the heat
8,500 ÷ 4 = 2,125 SHU per cup

Divide by Servings

Finally, we divide by how many people are eating. More people sharing means less heat per person.

Example:
4 people sharing
2,125 ÷ 4 = 531 SHU per serving

How Different Cooking Methods Affect Heat

Heat (spiciness) comes from capsaicin, a chemical compound in peppers. Different cooking methods affect capsaicin in different ways. Our calculator uses these scientifically-verified multipliers:

🔥 Raw / Fresh (100% heat)

No cooking means maximum capsaicin content. This is the baseline - all other methods are compared to raw peppers.

No change

🍳 Fried (+10% heat)

Oil frying concentrates capsaicin and makes it more bioavailable. The heat actually INCREASES when you fry peppers!

+10% hotter

🔥 Roasted (-5% heat)

Dry heat causes mild capsaicin breakdown. Roasting gives smoky flavor but slightly reduces spiciness.

-5% milder

🍖 Grilled (-10% heat)

Charring and high direct heat break down capsaicin molecules. Great for flavor, reduces heat moderately.

-10% milder

💧 Boiled (-15% heat)

Capsaicin is slightly water-soluble and leeches into cooking liquid. This is why pepper water is spicy!

-15% milder

🥒 Pickled (-25% heat)

Acidic environments break down capsaicin over time. The longer peppers pickle, the milder they become.

-25% milder

☀️ Dried (+150% heat)

Water removal concentrates everything - including capsaicin! Dried peppers are much more potent by weight.

+150% hotter!

🫙 Fermented (-20% heat)

Bacterial fermentation breaks down capsaicinoids. This is why fermented hot sauces taste milder than fresh.

-20% milder

Scientific Note: These percentages are based on research from the Chile Pepper Institute and food science studies. Actual results may vary by ±10% depending on cooking time, temperature, and pepper variety.

Pepper Scoville Scale Reference

Browse all 72 chile peppers ranked by heat level. Search by name, filter by spiciness, or click column headers to sort.

Image	Name	Heat Level (SHU)	Category
	Sweet Bell Pepper Also known as: Sweet Pepper, Capsicum, Bell, Sweet Bell	0 - 0 SHU	Mild
	Ají Panca	100 - 100 SHU	Mild
	Shishito Pepper Also known as: Shishito, Shishito Pepper	50 - 200 SHU	Mild
	Friggitello Pepper	100 - 500 SHU	Mild
	Pepperoncini Pepper Also known as: Tuscan Pepper, Sweet Italian Pepper	100 - 500 SHU	Mild
	Pimento Pepper Also known as: Pimiento, Cherry Pepper	100 - 500 SHU	Mild
	Banana Pepper Also known as: Yellow Wax Pepper, Banana Chile	500 - 500 SHU	Mild
	Cajun Belle Pepper	500 - 500 SHU	Mild
🌶️	Santa Fe Grande pepper	750 - 750 SHU	Mild
	Ají dulce	1,000 - 1,000 SHU	Medium
	Peppadew	1,177 - 1,177 SHU	Medium
	Anaheim Pepper Also known as: New Mexico Chile, California Chile, Hatch Chile, Anaheim	500 - 2,500 SHU	Medium
	Poblano Pepper Also known as: Chile Poblano, Poblano Pepper, Poblano Chile	1,000 - 2,000 SHU	Medium
🌶️	Ancho Pepper (Dried Poblano) Also known as: Ancho, Dried Poblano, Chile Ancho	1,000 - 2,000 SHU	Medium
	Korean chili pepper Also known as: Gochugaru, Korean Pepper, Gochu	1,500 - 1,500 SHU	Medium
	Pasilla Chile Also known as: Pasilla, Chile Pasilla, Chile Negro	1,750 - 1,750 SHU	Medium
	Cascabel chili Also known as: Cascabel, Rattle Chile	2,000 - 2,000 SHU	Medium
	Chilhuacle Negro	2,000 - 2,000 SHU	Medium
	Cherry Bomb Pepper Also known as: Cherry Bomb, Pimento	100 - 5,000 SHU	Medium
	NuMex ʽBig Jim’	2,500 - 3,000 SHU	Medium
	Mulato Pepper	2,500 - 3,000 SHU	Medium
	Española Improved Chile	2,000 - 4,000 SHU	Medium
	Guajillo Also known as: Mirasol Chile, Guajillo, Chile Guajillo	2,500 - 5,000 SHU	Medium
	Espelette pepper Also known as: Piment d'Espelette, Espelette	4,000 - 4,000 SHU	Medium
	Padrón peppers	5,000 - 5,000 SHU	Medium
	Chimayó pepper	5,000 - 5,000 SHU	Medium
	Fresno Pepper Also known as: Fresno Chili, Fresno Chile	5,250 - 5,250 SHU	Medium
🌶️	Puya Chile	5,000 - 8,000 SHU	Medium
	Chipotle Pepper Also known as: Smoked Jalapeño, Chipotle Pepper, Chipotle Chile	6,500 - 6,500 SHU	Medium
	Hungarian Wax Pepper	1,000 - 15,000 SHU	Medium
	Aleppo Pepper Also known as: Aleppo, Halaby Pepper, Pul Biber	10,000 - 10,000 SHU	Hot
	Cheongyang chili pepper	10,000 - 10,000 SHU	Hot
🌶️	Dedo de Moca	10,000 - 10,000 SHU	Hot
	Jalapeño Pepper Also known as: Jalapeno, Chile Jalapeño, Jalapeño Chili	1,000 - 20,000 SHU	Hot
	Serrano Pepper Also known as: Serrano Chili, Chile Serrano, Serrano	10,000 - 23,000 SHU	Hot
🌶️	Sport Pepper	16,500 - 16,500 SHU	Hot
	Bishop's Crown	17,500 - 17,500 SHU	Hot
	Fish Pepper	17,500 - 17,500 SHU	Hot
	Chile De Arbol	22,500 - 22,500 SHU	Hot
	Cayenne Pepper Also known as: Cayenne Chili, Guinea Spice, Cayenne	30,000 - 50,000 SHU	Hot
	Tabasco Pepper Also known as: Tabasco Chili, McIlhenny Pepper	30,000 - 50,000 SHU	Hot
	NuMex 'Twilight'	30,000 - 50,000 SHU	Hot
	Aji Amarillo Also known as: Yellow Chili, Peruvian Yellow Pepper, Aji Amarillo	30,000 - 50,000 SHU	Hot
	Aji Charapita	30,000 - 50,000 SHU	Hot
	Lemon Drop Pepper	40,000 - 40,000 SHU	Hot
	Rocoto Pepper Also known as: Rocoto, Locoto, Manzano	40,000 - 40,000 SHU	Hot
	Siling Haba	50,000 - 50,000 SHU	Hot
	New Mexico chile	70,000 - 70,000 SHU	Hot
	Bird's Eye Chili Also known as: Bird Chili, Bird's Eye Chili, Prik Kee Noo, Thai Chili, Thai Pepper	50,000 - 100,000 SHU	Hot
🌶️	Apache Pepper	75,000 - 75,000 SHU	Hot
	Chiltepin Pepper	75,000 - 75,000 SHU	Hot
	Siling Labuyo	90,000 - 90,000 SHU	Hot
	Dalle Khursani	100,000 - 100,000 SHU	Very Hot
	Piri Piri Also known as: Peri Peri, African Bird's Eye, Pili Pili	112,500 - 112,500 SHU	Very Hot
	Pequin Pepper	120,000 - 120,000 SHU	Very Hot
🌶️	Jamaican hot red	150,000 - 150,000 SHU	Very Hot
	Datil pepper Also known as: Datil, Datil Pepper	100,000 - 300,000 SHU	Very Hot
	Madame Jeanette Pepper	225,000 - 225,000 SHU	Very Hot
	Scotch Bonnet Pepper Also known as: Bonney Pepper, Caribbean Red Pepper, Scotch Bonnet Pepper	80,000 - 400,000 SHU	Very Hot
🌶️	Vicious Viper	250,000 - 250,000 SHU	Very Hot
	Adjuma	100,000 - 500,000 SHU	Very Hot
	Red Savina	248,556 - 500,000 SHU	Extreme
	Habanero Pepper Also known as: Habanero Chili, Habanero Chile	577,000 - 577,000 SHU	Extreme
	Ghost Pepper Also known as: Bhoot Jolokia, Bhut Jolokia, Ghost Chili, Ghost Pepper, Naga Jolokia	850,000 - 1,125,000 SHU	Extreme
	Dorset Naga	1,001,304 - 1,001,304 SHU	Extreme
🌶️	Infinity chilli	1,067,286 - 1,067,286 SHU	Extreme
	Naga Morich	1,000,000 - 1,598,227 SHU	Extreme
	Naga Viper Pepper	1,382,118 - 1,382,118 SHU	Extreme
	Trinidad Scorpion Butch T	800,000 - 2,009,231 SHU	Extreme
	Komodo Dragon Pepper	1,400,000 - 2,200,000 SHU	Extreme
	Dragon's Breath Pepper	2,480,000 - 2,480,000 SHU	Extreme
🌶️	Pepper X	3,180,000 - 3,180,000 SHU	Extreme

Showing 20 of 72 peppers

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What Are Scoville Heat Units (SHU)?

The Scoville Scale is how we measure how spicy peppers are. Think of it like a thermometer for heat - but instead of temperature, it measures the burn you feel in your mouth!

How Is It Measured?

The Old Way (1912): Pharmacist Wilbur Scoville invented this test by mixing pepper extract with sugar water. He kept adding more sugar water until people couldn't taste the heat anymore. If it took 1,000 cups of sugar water, that pepper got 1,000 Scoville Heat Units.

The Modern Way (Today): Scientists now use machines called High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) to measure capsaicin directly. Capsaicin is the chemical that makes peppers spicy. More capsaicin = higher SHU = spicier pepper!

What Do The Numbers Mean in Real Life?

0 SHU (No Heat):

Bell peppers have zero capsaicin. You can eat them raw and feel nothing spicy. Great for people who don't like any heat at all.

2,500-8,000 SHU (Jalapeño Level):

This is what most people think of as "normal spicy food." Your lips tingle, you might want a drink, but you can still enjoy your meal. Most restaurant "medium" salsas are around this level.

30,000-50,000 SHU (Cayenne Level):

Now it's getting serious! You'll definitely sweat, your nose might run, and you need a beverage nearby. This is what spicy food lovers enjoy.

100,000-350,000 SHU (Habanero Level):

Very intense burning! Your whole mouth is on fire, you're sweating a lot, and you might hiccup. Only for people who really love extreme spice.

1,000,000+ SHU (Ghost Pepper & Up):

Dangerously hot! This can actually hurt - not just "spicy" but painful. Can cause stomach cramps, vomiting, and extreme discomfort. Used more for challenges than actual cooking.

Why Do Scoville Ratings Vary?

You might see different numbers for the same pepper on different websites. Here's why:

Growing Conditions: Hot weather and stress make peppers produce more capsaicin
Pepper Variety: Even within the same type (like jalapeños), some are naturally hotter
Ripeness: Riper peppers are usually spicier
Where It Grows: The same pepper seed can produce different heat levels in different climates

💡 Practical Tip: That's why we show ranges (like 2,500-8,000 SHU) instead of exact numbers. A jalapeño from your garden might be 3,000 SHU, while one from the store might be 7,000 SHU - both are still jalapeños!

What About Hot Sauces?

Hot sauces are trickier! A bottle might say "Habanero Hot Sauce" but the actual SHU depends on how many peppers they used and how much they diluted it. A habanero pepper is 100,000-350,000 SHU, but a habanero sauce might only be 5,000-10,000 SHU because it's mixed with vinegar, salt, and other ingredients.

Bottom Line: Scoville Heat Units give you a good idea of how spicy something will be, but your own tolerance matters most. What's "mild" to one person might be "very hot" to another. Start with less, you can always add more!

Data Sources & Attribution

📊 Wikidata (Primary Source)

License: CC0 1.0 Universal (Public Domain)

72 peppers with Scoville Heat Unit data from Wikidata Property P2658

Visit Wikidata →

📖 Wikipedia

License: CC BY-SA 3.0

Supplementary data from the Scoville Scale Wikipedia page

Visit Wikipedia →

🔬 Scientific Citations

Chile Pepper Institute, New Mexico State University
Guinness World Records (2007-2024 pepper measurements)
Bosland, P. W. (2007). "Bhut Jolokia - The World's Hottest Chile Pepper"
Constant, H. L. (1996). "Temperature effects on capsaicinoid content"

🎯 Our Methodology

How we ensure data quality:

Fetch Scoville data from Wikidata (verified by community)
Cross-reference with scientific papers and official databases
Use SHU ranges (not exact values) to account for pepper variation
Apply research-based cooking multipliers from food science studies

Disclaimer: Heat levels can vary ±20% based on pepper variety, growing conditions, and cooking time. Our calculator provides scientifically-based estimates for educational purposes.

Spicy Food Heat Calculator - Free Scoville Calculator