How Much Hotter Is Scotch Bonnet Than a Jalapeño?
Scotch Bonnet is hotter, at about 225,000 SHU against 5,000 SHU for Jalapeño: about 45× as hot, using typical values. Across the measured ranges the gap runs from 13× to 140×.
Data checked October 20, 2026 · How we rank and verify
Side by side
| Scotch Bonnet | Jalapeño | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical heat | 225,000 SHU | 5,000 SHU |
| Measured range | 100,000–350,000 SHU | 2,500–8,000 SHU |
| Status | Lab tested | Lab tested |
| Species | Capsicum chinense | Capsicum annuum |
| Origin | Caribbean (especially Jamaica) | Mexico (named after Xalapa, Veracruz) |
| Flavour | Not documented | Grassy, green-vegetal when unripe |
| Colours | red, yellow, orange | 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, 225,000 ÷ 5,000 ≈ 45×. Real pods vary, so the gap between any two fruits can be smaller or larger (13× to 140× across the measured ranges).
In between
9 peppers sit between Jalapeño and Scotch Bonnet by typical heat.
- Datil200,000 SHU
- Kanthari80,640 SHU
- Bird's Eye Chilli75,000 SHU
- Cayenne40,000 SHU
- Tabasco40,000 SHU
- Guntur Chilli36,160 SHU
- Kashmiri Chilli20,800 SHU
- Serrano15,000 SHU
About each pepper
Questions
Which is hotter, Scotch Bonnet or Jalapeño?
Scotch Bonnet. It averages about 225,000 SHU against 5,000 SHU for Jalapeño, about 45× as hot.
How many times hotter is Scotch Bonnet than Jalapeño?
About 45× using typical values (225,000 ÷ 5,000). Comparing the extremes of each measured range gives anywhere from 13× to 140×.
How hot is Scotch Bonnet?
Scotch Bonnet: 100,000–350,000 SHU, lab tested.
How hot is Jalapeño?
Jalapeño: 2,500–8,000 SHU, lab tested.
Are Scotch Bonnet and Jalapeño the same species?
No. Scotch Bonnet is Capsicum chinense; Jalapeño is Capsicum annuum.
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Sources
- UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions, 'Peppers Ranked by Heat': Scotch Bonnet: 100,000-350,000
- NMSU Chile Pepper Institute, 'Heat' page (archived 19 Jun 2021): Scotch Bonnet: 350,000 tested
- 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.