How Much Hotter Is Bird's Eye Chilli Than a Jalapeño?
Bird's Eye Chilli is hotter, at about 75,000 SHU against 5,000 SHU for Jalapeño: about 15× as hot, using typical values. Across the measured ranges the gap runs from 6.3× to 40×.
Data checked October 20, 2026 · How we rank and verify
Side by side
| Bird's Eye Chilli | Jalapeño | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical heat | 75,000 SHU | 5,000 SHU |
| Measured range | 50,000–100,000 SHU | 2,500–8,000 SHU |
| Status | Lab tested | Lab tested |
| Species | Capsicum annuum (often confused with C. frutescens bird chillies) | Capsicum annuum |
| Origin | Southeast Asia (species from the Americas) | Mexico (named after Xalapa, Veracruz) |
| Flavour | Fruity, lightly earthy | Grassy, green-vegetal when unripe |
| Colours | red, green | green, red (ripe) |
The Scoville maths
The Scoville scale is linear: a pepper at 2,000,000 SHU has twice the capsaicinoids of one at 1,000,000 SHU. So the ratio is a simple division, 75,000 ÷ 5,000 ≈ 15×. Real pods vary, so the gap between any two fruits can be smaller or larger (6.3× to 40× across the measured ranges).
In between
6 peppers sit between Jalapeño and Bird's Eye Chilli by typical heat.
- Cayenne40,000 SHU
- Tabasco40,000 SHU
- Guntur Chilli36,160 SHU
- Kashmiri Chilli20,800 SHU
- Serrano15,000 SHU
- Byadgi Chilli10,000 SHU
About each pepper
Bird's Eye Chilli: Like all chillies it originated in the Americas.
Jalapeño: A Mexican C.
Questions
Which is hotter, Bird's Eye Chilli or Jalapeño?
Bird's Eye Chilli. It averages about 75,000 SHU against 5,000 SHU for Jalapeño, about 15× as hot.
How many times hotter is Bird's Eye Chilli than Jalapeño?
About 15× using typical values (75,000 ÷ 5,000). Comparing the extremes of each measured range gives anywhere from 6.3× to 40×.
How hot is Bird's Eye Chilli?
Bird's Eye Chilli: 50,000–100,000 SHU, lab tested.
How hot is Jalapeño?
Jalapeño: 2,500–8,000 SHU, lab tested.
Are Bird's Eye Chilli and Jalapeño the same species?
No. Bird's Eye Chilli is Capsicum annuum (often confused with C. frutescens bird chillies); Jalapeño is Capsicum annuum.
People also compare
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- Cayenne vs Bird's Eye ChilliBird's Eye Chilli 1.9×
- Kanthari vs Bird's Eye Chilliabout the same
- Pepper X vs JalapeñoPepper X 539×
- Carolina Reaper vs JalapeñoCarolina Reaper 328×
- Trinidad Moruga Scorpion vs JalapeñoTrinidad Moruga Scorpion 240×
- 7 Pot Douglah vs Jalapeño7 Pot Douglah 234×
Sources
- NDSU Extension FN584 'From the Garden to the Table: Salsa!': Bird's Eye Chilli: 50,000-100,000
- UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions, 'Peppers Ranked by Heat': Bird's Eye Chilli: 50,000-100,000
- Texas AgriLife Extension (Dr. Joe Masabni), 'Jalapeno & Other Hot Peppers': Jalapeño: 3,500-4,500 average
- NDSU Extension FN584 'From the Garden to the Table: Salsa!': Jalapeño: 2,500-5,000
Full source lists are on each pepper's page.