ChilliFacts

How Much Hotter Is Infinity Than a Jalapeño?

Infinity is hotter, at about 1,176,182 SHU against 5,000 SHU for Jalapeño: about 235× as hot, using typical values. Across the measured ranges the gap runs from 133× to 470×.

Data checked October 20, 2026 · How we rank and verify

1,176,182 SHUInfinity
5,000 SHUJalapeño
235×Heat ratio
InfinityHotter
Pepper X: 2,693,000 SHUDragon's Breath: 2,480,000 SHUCarolina Reaper: 1,641,183 SHUTrinidad Scorpion Butch T: 1,463,700 SHU7 Pot Primo: 1,400,000 SHUKomodo Dragon: 1,400,000 SHUNaga Viper: 1,382,118 SHUTrinidad Moruga Scorpion: 1,200,000 SHU7 Pot Brain Strain: 1,175,000 SHU7 Pot Douglah: 1,170,000 SHUDorset Naga: 1,032,310 SHUGhost Pepper: 1,001,304 SHUNaga Morich: 1,000,000 SHUDalle Khursani: 393,950 SHUFatalii: 262,500 SHURed Savina: 248,556 SHUHabanero: 225,000 SHUScotch Bonnet: 225,000 SHUDatil: 200,000 SHUKanthari: 80,640 SHUBird's Eye Chilli: 75,000 SHUCayenne: 40,000 SHUTabasco: 40,000 SHUGuntur Chilli: 36,160 SHUKashmiri Chilli: 20,800 SHUSerrano: 15,000 SHUByadgi Chilli: 10,000 SHUInfinity · 1.18MJalapeño · 5,0001K SHU10K SHU100K SHU1M SHU
Infinity and Jalapeño on the Scoville scale. Each dot is a pepper in our dataset, on a log scale.

Side by side

InfinityJalapeño
Typical heat1,176,182 SHU5,000 SHU
Measured range1,067,286–1,176,182 SHU2,500–8,000 SHU
StatusGuinness recordLab tested
SpeciesCapsicum chinenseCapsicum annuum
OriginGrantham, Lincolnshire, EnglandMexico (named after Xalapa, Veracruz)
FlavourFruity at firstGrassy, green-vegetal when unripe
Coloursredgreen, 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, 1,176,182 ÷ 5,000 ≈ 235×. Real pods vary, so the gap between any two fruits can be smaller or larger (133× to 470× across the measured ranges).

In between

19 peppers sit between Jalapeño and Infinity by typical heat.

About each pepper

Infinity: Found by accident by Nick Woods of Fire Foods, a former RAF security guard turned hot-sauce maker, who noticed an unusual plant in his polytunnel.

Jalapeño: A Mexican C.

Compare either pepper with another →

Questions

Which is hotter, Infinity or Jalapeño?

Infinity. It averages about 1,176,182 SHU against 5,000 SHU for Jalapeño, about 235× as hot.

How many times hotter is Infinity than Jalapeño?

About 235× using typical values (1,176,182 ÷ 5,000). Comparing the extremes of each measured range gives anywhere from 133× to 470×.

How hot is Infinity?

Infinity: 1,067,286–1,176,182 SHU, guinness record.

How hot is Jalapeño?

Jalapeño: 2,500–8,000 SHU, lab tested.

Are Infinity and Jalapeño the same species?

No. Infinity is Capsicum chinense; Jalapeño is Capsicum annuum.

People also compare

Sources

  1. Texas AgriLife Extension (Dr. Joe Masabni), 'Jalapeno & Other Hot Peppers': Jalapeño: 3,500-4,500 average
  2. NDSU Extension FN584 'From the Garden to the Table: Salsa!': Jalapeño: 2,500-5,000

Full source lists are on each pepper's page.