Chili Heat Scale: Scoville Guide (2026)

By Ryan Tanaka · October 5, 2026

Understanding Scoville Units

The Scoville Heat Unit (SHU) scale measures capsaicin concentration. Bell peppers register at 0 SHU while pure capsaicin hits 16 million SHU. Most cooking chilies fall between 1,000 and 100,000 SHU.

The Heat Scale

0 SHU: Bell pepper
100-900: Pimento, pepperoncini
2,500-8,000: Jalapeño, chipotle
10,000-25,000: Serrano, Aleppo
30,000-50,000: Cayenne, Thai bird's eye
50,000-100,000: Malagueta, chiltepin
100,000-350,000: Habanero, Scotch bonnet
1,000,000+: Ghost pepper, Carolina Reaper

Cooking with Heat Levels

Mild (under 5,000 SHU)

Use generously for flavor without overwhelming heat. Great for family cooking and children's meals.

Medium (5,000-50,000 SHU)

Add one or two peppers to a large pot. Remove seeds and membranes to reduce heat while keeping flavor.

Hot (50,000+ SHU)

Use gloves when handling. Start with a tiny amount and taste before adding more. A little goes a very long way.