Low noise amplifiers(LNAs) are an integral component of RF receivers and are frequently required to operate at wide frequency bands for various wireless systems. For wideband operation, important performance metrics such as voltage gain, return loss, noise figures and linearity have been carefully investigated and characterized for the proposed LNA. An inductive shunt feedback configuration is successfully employed in the input stage of the proposed LNA which incorporates cascaded networks with a peaking inductor in the buffer stage. Design equations for obtaining low and high input matching frequencies are easily derived, leading to a relatively simple method for circuit implementation. Careful theoretical analysis explains that poles and zeros are characterized and utilized for realizing the wideband response. Linearity is significantly improved because the inductor between gate and drain decreases the third-order harmonics at the output. Fabricated in 0.18 μm CMOS process, the chip area of this LNA is 0.202 mm 2 , including pads. Measurement results illustrate that input return loss shows less than -7 dB, voltage gain greater than 8 dB, and a little high noise figure around 7～8 dB over 1.5～13 GHz. In addition, good linearity(IIP3) of 2.5 dBm is achieved at 8 GHz and 14 mA of current is consumed from a 1.8 V supply.