Faucet Repair Guide ·17 min read

How to Identify Faucet Brand and Model (Even Without a Sticker)

By Thomas Kwayne · May 16, 2026 · Updated October 29, 2026 · Fact-checked against manufacturer documentation and authoritative trade sources.

How to identify faucet brand and model is the first question most homeowners hit when a repair starts — and getting it wrong is the single most expensive mistake in DIY faucet work. It isn’t dropping a screw down the drain or stripping a handle. It’s buying the wrong replacement part. Cartridges aren’t universal — even within a brand. Buy a Delta RP19804 when you needed an RP46074 and your $25 fix doesn’t fix anything; you’re back at the hardware store, this time with the right part, frustrated.

So before you order a cartridge, before you head to Home Depot, before you start unscrewing anything — figure out what brand and model your faucet actually is. This guide walks you through how to identify faucet brand and model in order from easiest to most laborious. The good news: most faucets installed in the last fifteen years have a model tag hidden under the sink. You just need to know where to look.

No sticker? Identify your faucet from a photo. Take clear shots of the handle straight-on, the spout from the side, and any markings under the sink, then upload them to the manufacturer’s identifier tool or email support – Kohler (KOHLER Scout), Moen and Pfister work from photos, Delta from step-by-step questions; turnaround varies by maker. Our free Repair Finder can also point you to the likely part from a few quick questions. The manual methods below get you there without the wait.

Start Here: Look at the Faucet Itself

Before you crawl under the sink, spend ten seconds on the faucet in plain view – it often hands you the brand for free.

Find the logo. Most faucets carry a small brand name or logo, and there are four usual spots: the base of the spout, the decorative escutcheon or base ring, the handle, and underneath the little index cap on top of the handle (the button that often pops off to reveal the handle screw). Wipe the area and shine a flashlight across it at an angle – on older or high-end faucets the logo is faint or embossed rather than printed.

Read the handle shape. Even with no logo, the handle is a strong brand tell. In our experience a single lever usually points to Moen or Delta (Moen’s handles tend to be curved and sleek, Delta’s more angular and geometric), and cross handles lean Kohler or American Standard, which tend toward a more traditional, ornate look; no maker publishes these cues, so treat them as a first guess. Delta and Peerless single-handles often have a red/blue temperature indicator built into the cap. These cues won’t give you an exact model, but they narrow the brand before you ever pick up a wrench – and they tell you which section below to read first.

This table is the at-a-glance version – the logo or wordmark to look for, where each brand hides it, and the handle cue that confirms it:

Brand	Logo / wordmark	Where to look for it	Handle / visual cue
Delta	“Delta” wordmark, often with a triangle	Base of spout, handle, and a “DO NOT REMOVE” tag on the cold supply line (2012+)	Single lever, angular and geometric; red/blue temp indicator on some caps
Moen	“Moen” wordmark	Per Moen: exact model numbers are on the box or the instruction sheet; some newer faucets carry a model-identifying tag on the supply lines; the back of a non-pullout spout may show the family series number, which is not the exact model	Single lever, curved and sleek (our observation)
Kohler	“Kohler” plus a model number with a `K-` prefix (Kohler says the K may be left off some labels and stampings)	Per Kohler: the label on the box, the installation instructions or specification sheet, the receipt, a number stamped directly onto the product, or the serial label with a call to its Customer Care Center	Cross handles lean traditional, ornate (our observation)
Pfister	“Pfister” (older units: “Price Pfister”)	Per Pfister: the product package and the instruction manual, below the product name; often also a label on the shank or supply line under the sink (our observation)	Check the under-sink label first; styles vary
American Standard	“American Standard” wordmark	On the faucet body or trim	Cross handles, traditional look

Method 1: Find the Original Documentation

The fastest path is the most boring one — paperwork.

If you bought the faucet yourself: check the box (basements, garages, and storage closets are full of “I’ll keep this just in case” boxes), the original receipt, or the installation manual. Anything that came with the faucet has the model number on it.

If the home was built or remodeled by someone else: check builder paperwork, home inspection reports, or any “fixtures and finishes” lists from the closing documents. Larger builders sometimes provide an appliance/fixture spec sheet.

This sometimes works for current owners and almost never for inherited fixtures. When it doesn’t work, move to Method 2.

Method 2: Look Under the Sink for a Model Tag

Most modern faucets have a small label hidden somewhere under the sink. The location varies by brand. Here’s where to look:

Delta

Most Delta faucets manufactured from roughly 2012 onward have a model identification tag attached to one of the flexible supply lines — typically the cold-water line. The tag is small, usually a paper or plastic label, and often marked “DO NOT REMOVE” in bold letters.

Get under the sink with a flashlight. Trace the supply lines (the braided steel hoses) up from the shut-off valves. The tag is usually within the first 6–12 inches of the hose. The model number on the tag — something like “9159T-AR-DST” — is everything you need to look up parts.

If your Delta is older than ~2012, there’s likely no supply-line tag. Move to Method 3 or 4.

Moen

Moen’s markings are, in our experience, less consistent than Delta’s. Moen’s own guidance (how to find your model number) names these places:

Original packaging or instruction sheet — where Moen says the exact model number is printed
Supply lines — Moen says some of its newer faucets may have a model-identifying tag attached to the supply lines
Faucet body — Moen’s FAQ says the back of a non-pullout spout may show the general family series number, which is not the exact model number but helps when used together with the faucet image in Moen’s Replacement Part Locator (how to find your model number). Moen’s identification guide adds that a kitchen faucet may have a number on the back of the water spout, and a lavatory faucet a series of numbers on the front curve under the spout (Moen’s identification guide). Use a flashlight; the marking is small.

Kohler

Kohler’s own guidance does not send you to a supply-line tag. Kohler lists the label on the box, product literature such as the installation instructions or specification sheet, the invoice or receipt, a number stamped directly onto the product, and the product’s serial label, from which its Customer Care Center can identify the model.

A number stamped on the faucet itself may appear without the K prefix, Kohler says. Look behind the spout and on the underside of the deck with a flashlight for a base number followed by a dash and letters (our suggestion). Removing a handle to look under it is our own suggestion too, not Kohler’s; on many Kohler handles a set-screw sits under a decorative cap.

If there’s nothing visible, Kohler offers two routes. Its KOHLER Scout app helps find a product model number from an uploaded photo. Its Customer Care Center can identify the model from the product’s serial label (Kohler’s model-number page). More on that in Method 5.

Pfister

Pfister says the model number is displayed on the product package and on the instruction manual, right below the product name. In our experience a label also sits under the sink near the faucet shank (the part of the faucet that goes through the deck into the cabinet), sometimes on the supply line, sometimes on the shank itself: look for a small Pfister logo with a model number underneath (our observation, not Pfister’s).

If no label is visible, Pfister’s “Ask a Question” support invites photos: it asks for two or three photos from different angles to help identify your model.

Narrowed down the brand? If the repair means pulling the cartridge (to read its number or replace it), the right tools save the stem — match the puller to your brand first:

As an Amazon Associate, plumbingbythebook earns from qualifying purchases. Links below are affiliate links — they cost you nothing extra.

Not sure which part you have? The cartridge finder narrows it to the exact part in a few questions.

Method 3: Use the Manufacturer’s Online Identifier Tool

If the under-sink tag hunt comes up empty, try the brand’s online tools:

Delta — search for “Delta faucet identifier” or use Delta’s parts finder. Their support site lets you input partial info (handle style, finish, valve type) to narrow down the model.
Moen — Moen’s “Solutions” site has a faucet identifier specifically designed for this. Input what you know (handle type, color, approximate age) and it’ll narrow to a few likely candidates.
Kohler — Kohler’s parts catalog finds a part diagram by product number or name (“Enter product # or name here”), and its Scout app helps “find your product model number with an uploaded photo”.
Pfister — Pfister’s “Ask a Question” form takes a photo upload and asks for “two or three photos from different angles to help us identify your model”.

These tools work best when you can describe the faucet clearly. Take a few photos before you start (handle straight on, handle rotated, full faucet from the side, faucet from above) so you have reference shots. Or let our free Repair Finder walk you to the likely part — describe your faucet and it’ll suggest the most common cartridge for that brand and handle type without needing the exact model number.

Method 4: Identify by the Cartridge Itself

If you’ve gotten this far without an answer, the next step is to remove the cartridge and inspect it directly. You’ll need to do this anyway for the actual repair — and the cartridge often has its own identifying marks.

(Quick safety check: shut off the under-sink supply valves before disassembling anything. Open the faucet to confirm no water flow. See the Complete Guide to Faucet Repair for the full repair safety sequence.)

After removing the cartridge, look for:

Delta cartridges are typically plastic with a distinctive thick stem and a colored cap. The two most common Delta cartridges look very similar but differ in cap color: RP46074 has a gray top cap, RP19804 has a white top cap. The white-cap RP19804 also has a visible metal spring at the bottom; the gray-cap RP46074 has a flat brass bottom. If your cartridge has a stamped Delta logo or a part number in raised lettering, that’s your answer. Once you’ve confirmed it’s a Delta, our guide to Delta cartridge identification walks through telling the families apart (RP19804 vs. RP46074 vs. the 17 Series) before you buy.

Moen cartridges, in our experience, come in both brass and plastic bodies, so the brand alone does not tell you the material. The 1200 and 1225 are close in size and shape but are not the same part (our observation); Moen’s own listing calls the 1200 the “Moen 1200 Single-Handle Brass Replacement Cartridge,” so a Moen cartridge being brass does not rule out a 1200. Moen does not publish a body-material spec for the 1225, and at least one major retailer lists it as brass and plastic, so do not order by material alone: read the model number, which is usually embossed in small raised letters near the top edge, or match the cartridge against Moen’s own part diagram for your faucet model. The PosiTemp 1222 is the Posi-Temp shower cartridge.

Kohler cartridges, in our experience, are usually metal-bottomed (often brass) with a plastic stem on top, and look more substantial than Delta’s mostly-plastic units; that is our observation, not a Kohler specification. Look for a stamped part number on the base.

Pfister cartridges, in our experience, differ from one faucet series to the next, and many are simple plastic units with no distinctive color cues. The model number is usually embossed somewhere on the body, but it may be small and hard to read without a flashlight.

Read the stem broach (the pro method). For a two-handle or older valve, pull the handle (pop the index cap, back out the screw) and look at the top of the stem where the handle seats – that splined pattern is called the broach, and its shape varies by maker and series. Broaches come as splined tops (12-, 16- and 20-point are the common counts) or as square, D-shaped or oval tops; which maker used which, and in which years, is not something the makers publish, so the broach narrows the stem rather than naming the brand. Plumbing-supply pros match it with an inexpensive broach gauge (a tool with male and female keys you fit the stem into until one matches). Count the splines and note the shape – with the broach plus the stem length, a supply desk can pin the exact stem.

One more shortcut: the removed cartridge or stem usually carries a stamped part code (and often a size number) on its body – that alphanumeric is the single fastest path to an exact-match replacement, so photograph it before you buy.

If you’re still stuck after pulling the cartridge, take it to a hardware store with you. The plumbing department staff can often match it visually within a minute or two. Bring it dry and clean. For an off-brand or import faucet with no manufacturer to call, brand-agnostic stem/cartridge finder catalogs (BrassCraft, Ferguson) and a posted photo on a plumbing forum (such as r/Plumbing or Terry Love) are how people identify the genuinely unmarked ones.

Method 5: Contact the Manufacturer Directly

If everything above fails, reach out to the manufacturer’s support team with photos. All four major brands have responsive support that can identify a faucet from clear photos.

What to send:

A straight-on photo of the faucet handle (showing handle shape and any decorative caps)
A photo of the spout from the side
A photo of the underside of the faucet from below the sink
The cartridge itself if you’ve removed it

Response times vary by maker. Faster if you call during business hours.

This sounds like the slowest option but it’s actually quite efficient — you’ll often get the model number AND a recommendation for the right replacement part in a single response. And if your faucet is still under its maker’s warranty (check the maker’s own warranty terms; the Complete Guide to Faucet Repair covers where to find them), they may ship you a replacement cartridge for free.

How to Identify Your Faucet Brand: Step-by-Step

Work through these five steps in order, from easiest to most laborious:

Check the original documentation

Got the original box, manual, or receipt? Use the model number printed on it – you’re done.

Look under the sink for a model tag

No paperwork? Look under the sink for a model tag; each brand’s usual spots (supply-line tag, spout or body marking, package or manual) are in its section under Method 2 above.

Try the manufacturer’s online identifier tool

No tag found? Use the brand’s online identifier tool with a few clear photos – handle straight-on, the spout from the side, and the full faucet.

Remove the cartridge and inspect it

Online tool inconclusive? Shut off the supply, pull the cartridge, and read its shape, cap color, any stamped part code, and the stem broach.

Contact the manufacturer with photos

Still stuck? Send clear photos to the brand’s support team; turnaround varies by maker.

If you’ve made it through all five methods and still don’t have an answer, your faucet may be old enough or generic enough that exact identification isn’t possible — and that’s a sign you should consider replacing the whole faucet rather than chasing a part.

What’s Next

Once you know your faucet brand and model, the next step is matching it to the right replacement part. Brand-by-brand cartridge identification guides are up for Delta, Moen, Kohler, American Standard and Pfister, and the shower cartridge identification chart puts the shower cartridges side by side.

If the only name on the faucet is a store brand, such as Glacier Bay, Pegasus, AquaSource or Project Source, the store-brand cartridge guide finds the part by the store’s own model or item number.

If you’re ready to do the actual repair right now, head to the Complete Guide to Faucet Repair — it covers the four faucet types, the six most common failure modes, the tools you need, and when to stop and call a plumber.

Is there an app to identify faucet brands?

There’s no single universal app, but the major brands offer online identifier tools that work like one: Moen’s faucet identifier, Delta’s product identifier (step-by-step questions that narrow to a model number), Kohler’s parts catalog and KOHLER Scout photo tool, and Pfister’s photo-upload support all narrow your model from a description or photos. Our free Repair Finder does the same for the repair part – answer a few questions and it suggests the likely cartridge without needing the exact model number.

How do I identify a faucet from a picture?

Take clear, well-lit photos of the handle straight-on, the spout from the side, and any markings under the sink, then upload them to the manufacturer’s identifier tool or email their support – Kohler (KOHLER Scout), Moen (its photo identifier) and Pfister (its ask-a-question form) work from photos; Delta’s identifier works from step-by-step questions instead. Turnaround varies by maker. If you’ve already removed the cartridge, a photo of it (shape, cap color, any stamped code) is often enough to match the part on its own.

How do I identify my faucet brand and model?

Work through it in order: check any original documentation or receipts, look under the sink for a model tag or stamp on the faucet body, use the manufacturer’s online identifier tool, identify it by the cartridge itself, or contact the manufacturer directly with photos.

Where is the model number on a faucet?

Most often on a label or stamp on the underbody beneath the sink, on the original paperwork, or sometimes on the cartridge once it’s removed. Unlike toilets there’s no single standard spot, which is why several methods exist.

Can I identify the faucet from the cartridge?

Often yes – the cartridge’s shape, length, and stem are distinctive to a brand and series, so a removed cartridge (or a clear photo of it) is one of the most reliable ways to match the right replacement part.

What if I can’t find any markings at all?

Photograph the whole faucet plus the cartridge and contact the manufacturer’s support – they can frequently identify an older model from images. If it still can’t be matched, a universal-fit repair part or replacing the faucet are the fallbacks.

Why does identifying the faucet matter before I buy parts?

Because a cartridge or O-ring that’s close-but-wrong won’t seal, sending you back to the store and turning a 30-minute repair into a multi-trip weekend. Confirming the model first is the cheapest insurance in any faucet repair.

Can I identify a faucet by the handle shape?

It’s a good first narrowing. In our experience a single lever usually points to Moen (curved, sleek) or Delta (angular, often with a red/blue temperature cap), and cross handles lean Kohler or American Standard; the makers publish no such cues. It won’t give an exact model, but it tells you which brand’s tag locations and parts to check first.

What is a faucet broach and how do I use it to identify the faucet?

The broach is the splined pattern on top of the valve stem where the handle attaches. Its shape varies by maker and era: splined tops (12-, 16- and 20-point are common) or square, D-shaped and oval ones; the makers publish no brand-by-shape chart, so the broach narrows the stem, not the brand. Pull the handle, note the shape and spline count (a broach gauge matches it exactly), and a supply desk can identify the stem from that.

What if my faucet is a generic or off-brand with no manufacturer?

Then there may be no model to look up. Match it by the part instead: measure the cartridge or stem, note the broach and O-ring sizes, and take the old part to a plumbing-supply desk, or replace the cartridge with a measured universal. Stem/cartridge finder catalogs (BrassCraft, Ferguson) and plumbing forums help with the truly unmarked ones.

Sources

Educational content only. Not a substitute for licensed professional advice. Local plumbing codes vary by jurisdiction. Use of any guidance from this guide is at your own risk.

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