How Much Hotter Is Ghost Pepper Than a Jalapeño?
Ghost Pepper is hotter, at about 1,001,304 SHU against 5,000 SHU for Jalapeño: about 200× as hot, using typical values. Across the measured ranges the gap runs from 107× to 417×.
Data checked October 20, 2026 · How we rank and verify
Side by side
| Ghost Pepper | Jalapeño | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical heat | 1,001,304 SHU | 5,000 SHU |
| Measured range | 855,000–1,041,427 SHU | 2,500–8,000 SHU |
| Status | Lab tested | Lab tested |
| Species | Capsicum chinense (with RAPD evidence of introgression from C. frutescens) | Capsicum annuum |
| Origin | Northeast India: Assam, Nagaland and Manipur (also Meghalaya, Mizoram and the Sylhet region of Bangladesh) | Mexico (named after Xalapa, Veracruz) |
| Flavour | Not documented | Grassy, green-vegetal when unripe |
| Colours | red (ripe), green (unripe) | 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, 1,001,304 ÷ 5,000 ≈ 200×. Real pods vary, so the gap between any two fruits can be smaller or larger (107× to 417× across the measured ranges).
In between
15 peppers sit between Jalapeño and Ghost Pepper by typical heat.
- Naga Morich1,000,000 SHU
- Dalle Khursani393,950 SHU
- Fatalii262,500 SHU
- Red Savina248,556 SHU
- Habanero225,000 SHU
- Scotch Bonnet225,000 SHU
- Datil200,000 SHU
- Kanthari80,640 SHU
About each pepper
Ghost Pepper: A traditional landrace of Northeast India.
Jalapeño: A Mexican C.
Questions
Which is hotter, Ghost Pepper or Jalapeño?
Ghost Pepper. It averages about 1,001,304 SHU against 5,000 SHU for Jalapeño, about 200× as hot.
How many times hotter is Ghost Pepper than Jalapeño?
About 200× using typical values (1,001,304 ÷ 5,000). Comparing the extremes of each measured range gives anywhere from 107× to 417×.
How hot is Ghost Pepper?
Ghost Pepper: 855,000–1,041,427 SHU, lab tested.
How hot is Jalapeño?
Jalapeño: 2,500–8,000 SHU, lab tested.
Are Ghost Pepper and Jalapeño the same species?
No. Ghost Pepper is Capsicum chinense (with RAPD evidence of introgression from C. frutescens); Jalapeño is Capsicum annuum.
People also compare
- Carolina Reaper vs Ghost PepperCarolina Reaper 1.6×
- Pepper X vs Ghost PepperPepper X 2.7×
- Ghost Pepper vs Trinidad Moruga ScorpionTrinidad Moruga Scorpion 1.2×
- Ghost Pepper vs HabaneroGhost Pepper 4.5×
- Naga Morich vs Ghost Pepperabout the same
- Raja Mircha vs Ghost Peppersame landrace
- Ghost Pepper vs Dalle KhursaniGhost Pepper 2.5×
- Pepper X vs JalapeñoPepper X 539×
Sources
- 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
- 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.