Carolina Reaper vs Ghost Pepper
Carolina Reaper is hotter, at about 1,641,183 SHU against 1,001,304 SHU for Ghost Pepper: about 1.6× as hot, using typical values. Across the measured ranges the gap runs from 1.6× to 2.6×.
Data checked October 20, 2026 · How we rank and verify
Side by side
| Carolina Reaper | Ghost Pepper | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical heat | 1,641,183 SHU | 1,001,304 SHU |
| Measured range | up to 2,200,000 SHU | 855,000–1,041,427 SHU |
| Status | Guinness record | Lab tested |
| Species | Capsicum chinense | Capsicum chinense (with RAPD evidence of introgression from C. frutescens) |
| Origin | Fort Mill / Rock Hill, South Carolina, USA | Northeast India: Assam, Nagaland and Manipur (also Meghalaya, Mizoram and the Sylhet region of Bangladesh) |
| Flavour | Fruity and sweet, with a hint of cinnamon and chocolate undertones (Guinness description) | Not documented |
| Colours | red | red (ripe), green (unripe) |
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, 1,641,183 ÷ 1,001,304 ≈ 1.6×. Real pods vary, so the gap between any two fruits can be smaller or larger (1.6× to 2.6× across the measured ranges).
In between
9 peppers sit between Ghost Pepper and Carolina Reaper by typical heat.
- Trinidad Scorpion Butch T1,463,700 SHU
- 7 Pot Primo1,400,000 SHU
- Komodo Dragon1,400,000 SHU
- Naga Viper1,382,118 SHU
- Trinidad Moruga Scorpion1,200,000 SHU
- Infinity1,176,182 SHU
- 7 Pot Brain Strain1,175,000 SHU
- 7 Pot Douglah1,170,000 SHU
About each pepper
Carolina Reaper: Bred by Ed Currie of PuckerButt Pepper Company.
Ghost Pepper: A traditional landrace of Northeast India.
Questions
Which is hotter, Carolina Reaper or Ghost Pepper?
Carolina Reaper. It averages about 1,641,183 SHU against 1,001,304 SHU for Ghost Pepper, about 1.6× as hot.
How many times hotter is Carolina Reaper than Ghost Pepper?
About 1.6× using typical values (1,641,183 ÷ 1,001,304). Comparing the extremes of each measured range gives anywhere from 1.6× to 2.6×.
How hot is Carolina Reaper?
Carolina Reaper: up to 2,200,000 SHU, guinness record.
How hot is Ghost Pepper?
Ghost Pepper: 855,000–1,041,427 SHU, lab tested.
Are Carolina Reaper and Ghost Pepper the same species?
No. Carolina Reaper is Capsicum chinense; Ghost Pepper is Capsicum chinense (with RAPD evidence of introgression from C. frutescens).
People also compare
- Pepper X vs Carolina ReaperPepper X 1.6×
- Pepper X vs Ghost PepperPepper X 2.7×
- Dragon's Breath vs Carolina ReaperDragon's Breath 1.5×
- Trinidad Moruga Scorpion vs Carolina ReaperCarolina Reaper 1.4×
- Ghost Pepper vs Trinidad Moruga ScorpionTrinidad Moruga Scorpion 1.2×
- Ghost Pepper vs HabaneroGhost Pepper 4.5×
- Carolina Reaper vs HabaneroCarolina Reaper 7.3×
- Naga Viper vs Carolina ReaperCarolina Reaper 1.2×
Sources
- Guinness World Records news, 19 Nov 2013: Carolina Reaper: 1,569,300 SHU average; parentage per Guinness; previous holder Butch T
- Guinness World Records (record page, archived 24 Dec 2014): Carolina Reaper: record text: average 1,569,300 SHU, Winthrop tests throughout 2012, dated 7 Aug 2013
- Bosland & Baral, HortScience 42(2):222-224 (2007), New Mexico State University: Ghost Pepper: 1,001,304 SHU; method; independent lab values; seed provenance; species; names
- NMSU News Center, 13 Feb 2012 (Chile Pepper Institute study by Bosland, Coon, Reeves): Ghost Pepper: Guinness certification in 2007; 2012 mean of almost 1.02M
Full source lists are on each pepper's page.