In the United States, ASTM International produces standards for civilian fuel types, and the U.S. Higher flash point products required for use on aircraft carriers are more expensive to produce. Very low temperature freezing points reduce the availability of fuel. Over the subsequent years, details of specifications were adjusted, such as minimum freezing point, to balance performance requirements and availability of fuels. British standards derived from standards for kerosene use for lamps-known as paraffin in the UK-whereas American standards derived from aviation gasoline practices. Both British and American standards for jet fuels were first established at the end of World War II. Most jet fuels in use since the end of World War II are kerosene-based. It is also used in Northern Canada, Alaska, and sometimes Russia, because of its low freezing point. It is primarily used in some military aircraft. It has a very low freezing point of −60 ☌ (−76 ☏), and a low flash point as well. A blend of approximately 30% kerosene and 70% gasoline, it is known as wide-cut fuel. For this reason, it is rarely used, except in very cold climates. However, Jet B's lighter composition makes it more dangerous to handle. Jet B is a fuel in the naphtha-kerosene region that is used for its enhanced cold-weather performance. The range of their sizes (molecular weights or carbon numbers) is defined by the requirements for the product, such as the freezing or smoke point. Kerosene-type jet fuel (including Jet A and Jet A-1) has a carbon number distribution between about 8 and 16 (carbon atoms per molecule) wide-cut or naphtha-type jet fuel (including Jet B). Jet fuel is a mixture of a large number of different hydrocarbons. The only other jet fuel commonly used in civilian turbine-engine powered aviation is Jet B, which is used for its enhanced cold-weather performance.

The most commonly used fuels for commercial aviation are Jet A and Jet A-1, which are produced to a standardized international specification. It is colorless to straw-colored in appearance.

Jet fuel, aviation turbine fuel (ATF), or avtur, is a type of aviation fuel designed for use in aircraft powered by gas-turbine engines.

Jet a1 density vs temperature table