| Pepper X | 2,693,000 | Nuclear | Intense, earthy, immediate searing burn | Extract sauces, eating challenges | USA |
| Carolina Reaper | 2,200,000 | Nuclear | Fruity, sweet then devastating heat | Hot sauce, powder, eating challenges | USA |
| Trinidad Moruga Scorpion | 2,009,231 | Nuclear | Fruity, tender sweetness then extreme burn | Extreme hot sauce, dried flakes | Trinidad |
| 7 Pot Douglah | 1,853,986 | Nuclear | Rich, nutty, slightly sweet, intense heat | Caribbean stews, extreme sauces | Trinidad |
| Trinidad Scorpion Butch T | 1,469,000 | Nuclear | Fruity, floral, extremely pungent | Extreme sauces, powder | Trinidad / Australia |
| Komodo Dragon Pepper | 1,382,118 | Nuclear | Fruity, delayed extreme burn | Sauces, dares, chili con carne | UK |
| Naga Viper | 1,041,427 | Nuclear | Fruity, aromatic, savage heat | Extreme sauces, powder | UK |
| Bhut Jolokia (Ghost Pepper) | 1,041,427 | Extreme | Smoky, fruity, slow-building inferno | Hot sauce, curry, smoked powder | India |
| 7 Pot Barrackpore | 855,000 | Extreme | Fruity, slightly bitter, punishing | Caribbean pepper sauces | Trinidad |
| Dorset Naga | 800,000 | Extreme | Fruity, floral, very sharp heat | Extreme cooking, sauces | UK / Bangladesh |
| Red Savina Habanero | 750,000 | Extreme | Fruity, citrusy, intense burn | Premium hot sauce, salsa | USA |
| Chocolate Habanero | 425,000 | Extreme | Rich, smoky, earthy with slow heat | Jerk sauce, mole, chili | Caribbean |
| Da' Bomb Beyond Insanity 🌶 | 357,000 | Extreme | Bitter, chemical-like, pure heat | Hot Ones challenge, dares | USA (sauce) |
| Scotch Bonnet | 350,000 | Very Hot | Fruity, tropical, sweet, fiery | Jerk chicken, Caribbean cooking | Caribbean |
| Habanero | 350,000 | Very Hot | Tropical, citrusy, floral, intense | Salsa, hot sauce, ceviche, jerk | Mexico |
| Bird's Eye (Thai Chili) | 200,000 | Very Hot | Sharp, peppery, slightly fruity | Thai curry, stir fry, dipping sauces | Southeast Asia |
| Datil Pepper | 175,000 | Very Hot | Sweet, fruity, tangy, mustardy | Datil sauce, relishes, marinades | USA (Florida) |
| Madame Jeanette | 160,000 | Very Hot | Fruity, mango-like, tropical heat | Surinamese cuisine, sauces | Suriname |
| Fatalii | 150,000 | Very Hot | Citrusy, fruity, bright, fierce | Fruit salsas, hot sauce, seafood | Central Africa |
| Mad Dog 357 🌶 | 135,600 | Very Hot | Vinegar-forward, garlic, pure heat | Extreme wings, chili, dares | USA (sauce) |
| Piri Piri (African Bird's Eye) | 100,000 | Hot | Citrusy, herbal, tangy | Piri piri chicken, grilled meats | Africa / Portugal |
| Malagueta Pepper | 75,000 | Hot | Sharp, bright, tangy | Brazilian hot sauce, feijoada | Brazil |
| Tabiche Pepper | 65,000 | Hot | Earthy, smoky, moderate heat | Salsas, stews, grilling | Mexico |
| Cayenne Pepper | 58,000 | Hot | Neutral, clean heat, slightly earthy | Spice blends, hot sauce, Cajun food | Central/South America |
| Chile de Arbol | 50,000 | Hot | Nutty, smoky, grassy, sharp | Salsa roja, oil infusion, dried | Mexico |
| El Yucateco Black Label 🌶 | 50,000 | Hot | Smoky, charred habanero, earthy | Tacos, eggs, grilled meat | Mexico (sauce) |
| Aji Amarillo | 40,000 | Hot | Fruity, berry-like, tropical | Ceviche, Peruvian sauces, aji sauce | Peru |
| Serrano Pepper | 30,000 | Hot | Bright, crisp, grassy, clean heat | Pico de gallo, salsa verde, raw | Mexico |
| Chipotle (Smoked Jalapeño) | 23,000 | Medium | Deeply smoky, earthy, chocolatey | Adobo, BBQ, chili, smoked meats | Mexico |
| Jalapeño | 8,000 | Medium | Bright, grassy, vegetal, crisp | Nachos, salsa, poppers, pickled | Mexico |
| Sriracha 🌶 | 7,000 | Medium | Garlicky, tangy, sweet heat | Noodles, pho, eggs, everything | USA / Thailand (sauce) |
| Fresno Pepper | 5,000 | Medium | Fruity, bright, slightly smoky | Ceviche, hot sauce, roasted | USA |
| Guajillo Pepper (Dried) | 5,000 | Medium | Tangy, berry-like, mildly sweet | Enchilada sauce, mole, stews | Mexico |
| Cholula Original 🌶 | 3,750 | Medium | Peppery, tangy, slightly woody | Tacos, eggs, pizza, snacks | Mexico (sauce) |
| Pasilla Pepper (Dried) | 3,500 | Medium | Rich, raisin-like, earthy, herbal | Mole negro, enchilada sauce | Mexico |
| Tabasco Original 🌶 | 2,500 | Medium | Vinegary, tangy, bright | Bloody Mary, oysters, pizza, eggs | USA (sauce) |
| Ancho Pepper (Dried Poblano) | 2,500 | Mild | Sweet, raisin-like, chocolatey, mild | Mole, chili, enchilada sauce | Mexico |
| Poblano Pepper | 2,000 | Mild | Earthy, rich, slightly smoky | Chiles rellenos, rajas, roasted | Mexico |
| Anaheim Pepper | 1,500 | Mild | Sweet, tangy, slightly smoky | Green chili, stuffed, roasted | USA / Mexico |
| Frank's RedHot 🌶 | 450 | Mild | Tangy, vinegary, garlicky, buttery | Buffalo wings, everything | USA (sauce) |
| Pepperoncini | 500 | Mild | Tangy, sweet, mild tingle | Salads, pizza, sandwiches, pickled | Italy / Greece |
| Banana Pepper | 300 | Mild | Sweet, tangy, mild | Sandwiches, pizza, salads, pickled | Americas |
| Pimento / Cherry Pepper | 100 | Mild | Sweet, succulent, almost no heat | Pimento cheese, stuffed olives | Americas |
| Bell Pepper | 0 | Mild | Sweet, crisp, vegetal, no heat | Salads, stir fry, stuffed, raw | Americas |