Light naphtha can refer to either a finished product used as a petrochemical feed stock, or as a distillation cut commonly called light straight run naphtha. It is comprised of pentane and slightly heavier material.

Light naphtha comes from refining of crude oil or from separation of NGLs in a gas processing plant. I a refinery light naphtha is generated from atmospheric distillation of crude oil as well as from many conversion units. Gas plant light naphtha is often called natural gasoline or pentanes plus.

In a refinery, light naphtha is often blended directly into gasoline. However, its low octane and relatively high vapor pressure typically limit it to 5% or less of the gasoline pool. To boost its octane, it is often sent to the isomerization unit before gasoline blending.

As a petrochemical feedstock, light naphtha is used in steam crackers, to make ethylene and ultimately to make plastics. In this use it competes with propane and ethane as a feedstock. Highly paraffinic naphtha is preferred in this use as it provides better yields than more naphthenic or aromatic naphthas.