Shower Cartridge Identification Chart: Every Major Brand in One Table [2026]

This shower cartridge identification chart puts nine manufacturers on one page — Delta, Moen, Kohler, Pfister, American Standard, Grohe, Symmons, Gerber, and the Peerless value line — so you can narrow a leaking or hard-to-turn shower to a brand and family before you touch a wrench. It’s a routing tool, not a substitute for the manufacturer’s own parts diagram: match your cartridge to a row below, then follow the link to that brand’s full identification guide for the exact RP or GP number.

Every brand on this list uses cartridges that are not cross-compatible with each other, and several manufacturers have two or three generations that look almost identical in your hand (This Old House notes plainly that shower cartridges and valves are not universal). Get the family wrong and the new part either won’t seat, won’t seal, or reverses hot and cold. This single handle shower cartridge identification chart is built to catch that mistake before you buy.

Shower Cartridge Identification Chart: The Cross-Brand Table

Start here. Match the trim or the removed cartridge to a row, then use the “Deep-Dive” link for that brand’s full identification method and confirmed part numbers.

Brand / Family	OEM Part Number(s)	Usually Behind	Visual Signature	The “Definitely It” Tell	Deep-Dive
Delta Monitor 1300/1400	RP19804	Single handle	White cap, shorter blue/off-white lower housing	Delta assigns RP19804 to Monitor 1300/1400 valves from before the MultiChoice transition (Delta RP19804)	Delta shower valve guide
Delta MultiChoice 13/14	RP46074 (RP74236 on some ceramic-cartridge variants)	Single handle	Gray cap, longer off-white lower housing	Delta lists RP46074 for current MultiChoice 13/14 pressure-balance trims – confirm against your parts diagram, since a ceramic-cartridge variant uses RP74236 instead (Delta RP46074)	Delta shower valve guide
Delta MultiChoice 17	RP46463 (older pre-transition rough valves may need RP32104)	Two separate handles (one temperature, one volume)	Gray-top cartridge – note Delta says the cap “was a lighter shade of gray until 2016”, so shade alone does not identify it	Two handles that set temperature and volume independently is the tell. Delta ships these as “2-Handle Monitor 17 Series Valve Trim” and describes them as “control volume and water temperature independently with two separate handles” – if your valve has ONE handle you likely have a 13/14 series and need RP46074 instead (Delta RP46463, Delta 17 Series trim)	Delta shower valve guide
Delta MultiChoice 17T TempAssure	RP47201	Single handle, thermostatic	Brass-and-black cartridge body	Thermostatic 17T trim (2007-present) uses a brass/black construction, not a standard pressure-balance cartridge (Delta cartridge finder)	Delta shower valve guide
Moen Posi-Temp	1222 / 1222B	Single handle, rotate-only	Brass-colored cylindrical body, about 4 in. tall	Handle rotates only for on/off and temperature – it does not pull out (Moen shower cartridge guide)	Moen shower valve guide
Moen standard / Moentrol	1225 / 1225B	Single handle, push-pull plus rotate	Clear/opaque plastic shell, brass stem, about 4-1/8 in. long	Handle pulls out for on/off and volume, then rotates for temperature (Moen shower cartridge guide)	Moen shower valve guide
Moen M-Core (newer installs)	1212 (rotate-only) / 1213 (push-pull plus rotate)	Single handle, current-generation	Newer cartridge platform behind recent Moen trims	Handle operation still narrows the family, but a newer valve can be M-Core rather than legacy 1222/1225 – check the platform before assuming (Moen shower cartridge guide)	Moen shower valve guide
Moen ExactTemp	103674, 1248, and platform-specific numbers	Vertical-spa or multi-control thermostatic systems	Varies by 1/2 in. vs 3/4 in. platform and year	Neither 1222/1212 nor 1225/1213 fits an ExactTemp system – confirm the platform first (Moen shower cartridge guide)	Moen shower valve guide
Kohler Rite-Temp (current K-8300/K-8304)	GP800881 (bare cartridge) – not the same as K-8305, which is a kit	Single-handle pressure-balance	One-piece cartridge body	Kohler describes GP800881 as a “one-piece pressure-balancing cartridge / For K-8304 Rite-Temp valve”. Order carefully: K-8305 “includes pressure balance cartridge and mud guard”, so the two numbers are not interchangeable – one is the service part, the other is a kit containing it (Kohler GP800881)	Kohler shower valve guide
Kohler older Rite-Temp (K-304 / K-11748)	GP876851 kit (mixer cap + pressure-balancing unit)	Single-handle pressure-balance	Older architecture uses a separate cap and PBU, not a one-piece cartridge	Kohler’s own service instructions route older K-304/K-11748 valves to the cap/PBU kit, not the newer one-piece cartridge (Kohler K-304 service instructions)	Kohler shower valve guide
Kohler 1/2 in. ceramic valve family	GP77005-RP hot / GP77006-RP cold	Two-handle or separate control applications	Small brass/ceramic quarter-turn cartridge	Kohler says cotter-pin shape distinguishes 1/2 in. from 3/4 in. cartridges better than package dimensions (Kohler cartridge-size guide)	Kohler shower valve guide
Pfister OX8 / JX8 / VB8 / JV8	974-042 / 974-0420 (discontinued), routes to either 974-5319 or 974-5299	Single-handle tub/shower	Gray or black one-piece pressure-balance body; 974-5299 has a metal stem, 974-5319 a plastic stem	Confirm OX8/JX8/VB8/JV8 first, then check the current service channel for whether 974-5319 or 974-5299 is stocked – Pfister and retailer listings name different successors (Pfister 974-0420 Q&A)	Pfister shower valve guide
American Standard R110/R115 pressure-balance	A954440-0070A	Single-handle pressure-balance	Compact ceramic-disc cartridge with a hot-limit stop	Belongs specifically to the R110/R115 pressure-balance valve body family – confirm against the valve, not the trim alone (Home Depot A954440)	American Standard shower valve guide
American Standard Ultramix	051337-0070A	Older single-handle bath/shower	Compact cartridge, distinct “Ultramix” branding on parts diagrams	The Ultramix name plus the parts diagram matter more than trim looks, since American Standard has several unrelated cartridge numbers (American Standard Ultramix)	American Standard shower valve guide
Grohe Grohmix / Grohtherm thermostatic	47439000 / 47885000 (standard 1/2 in. thermostatic compact). 47175000 is NOT a general replacement – see the warning	Thermostatic trim	Thermostatic cartridge; 1/2 in. and 3/4 in. platforms differ	Read this before ordering 47175000. Grohe lists it as the REVERSED-INLET service cartridge – “for reversed inlets (hot water right)” and a “service solution, does not comply with EN1111”. It is the mirror-image variant for plumbing piped hot-on-the-right, not the default part, and several retailers still list it under a generic “thermostatic compact cartridge” title. Grohe reserves the name “Thermostatic Compact Cartridge 1/2 in.” for different article numbers (47439000, 47885000). The stamped article number is the only safe confirmation (Grohe 47175000 spec)	Grohe shower valve guide
Symmons Temptrol	TA-10	Single-handle Temptrol	Solid brass spindle (Symmons does not publish its dimensions)	Symmons describes the TA-10 as the “Temptrol flow control spindle. For use with Temptrol shower series valves”. Note what Symmons actually claims: it calls the Temptrol valve – not this spindle – the heart of its tub and shower systems, and says the valve is “largely unchanged” rather than unchanged, having released the VersaFlex update after 50+ years (Symmons TA-10, Temptrol origins)	Symmons shower valve guide
Symmons Safetymix	C-5	Older pressure-balance Safetymix	Flow control spindle (Symmons publishes no dimensions or material for the C-5, so do not identify it by length)	Symmons lists the C-5 as “Flow control spindle. For use with Safetymix valves” – a different product line from Temptrol, not a longer version of the same part. Symmons dates Safetymix to 1939 and Temptrol to 1968 (Symmons C-5, Temptrol origins)	Symmons shower valve guide
Gerber Safetemp 49-series	49-400 / 49-700 -> G0097022; 49-600 / 49-800 -> G0092298	Single-handle pressure-balance, older platform	Cartridge assembly (Gerber’s parts sheets are line drawings and state no colour)	Gerber’s own support article maps the platform to the part: “For Gerber Shower Valve model 49-400 or 49-700 Series: Cartridge # G0097022”. The two platforms take DIFFERENT cartridges, so read the 49-number off the valve or parts diagram before ordering – getting this wrong is the exact mistake this row exists to prevent (Gerber cartridge replacement)	Gerber shower valve guide
Gerber Treysta	GA510015	Single-handle Treysta valve system	Cartridge with two orientation pins and an “UP” marking	GA510015 fits the Treysta valve system specifically – it is not interchangeable with the older 49-series cartridges above (Gerber Treysta instructions)	Gerber shower valve guide
Peerless / Delta Foundations crossover	RP70538	Single-handle pressure-balance	Multicolor plastic pressure-balance body	Delta’s parts finder lists RP70538 as original for the B112900/B114900 series (2010-2015); Peerless confirms RP70538 for its own tub/shower faucets (Peerless RP70538)	Delta shower valve guide

Identify Your Shower Cartridge Without Removing It

Most homeowners want to know the brand and family before they shut off the water. Trim-only identification can usually get you there, but it can’t always prove the exact part number, because manufacturers sell multiple trims over the same rough-in platform (Delta’s own cartridge finder exists specifically for users without the part in front of them).

Start with handle operation. A rotate-only handle points to Moen’s Posi-Temp (1222) or the newer M-Core 1212; a push-pull-then-rotate handle points to Moen’s 1225-style standard/Moentrol valves or the newer M-Core 1213 (Moen shower cartridge guide). Because M-Core exists, handle operation alone can no longer distinguish generation on a newer Moen valve – it only narrows the family, so still check the platform before ordering. A single rotating handle points to Delta’s 13/14 series; two separate controls for volume and temperature point to Delta’s 17 series (Delta RP46463). A handle with degree markings or a hard stop near a set temperature usually means a thermostatic cartridge — Grohe’s Grohtherm trims and Delta’s 17T are both built this way.

The next cue is what’s visible after the handle comes off but before the cartridge is pulled. Delta’s 13/14 and 17-series cartridges use rotational limit-stop hardware; Gerber’s A507873/A507887 cartridges expose a red temperature-limit ring with notched adjustment once the sleeve is off (Gerber temperature-limit instructions); Pfister’s 974-5299 has its own integrated limit stop. Brand logos and escutcheon styling are the weakest signal — they confirm the manufacturer but not the exact cartridge, since a replaced trim, universal handle, or repainted escutcheon can defeat the logo entirely.

Trim-only identification runs out on builder-grade showers, worn-off logos, replaced universal handles, or painted escutcheons. At that point, shut off the water, remove the handle and sleeve, and photograph the visible stem, retainer, and stop hardware before deciding whether to pull the cartridge (This Old House shower valve repair guide). For a full seven-point inspection walkthrough across brands, see how to identify your shower valve and cartridge.

The Confusable Pairs That Trip Up Homeowners

Delta RP19804 vs. RP46074. RP19804 fits the older Monitor 1300/1400 generation; RP46074 fits MultiChoice 13/14, from around the 2006 MultiChoice transition onward. Manufacturer and retailer Q&A pages disagree on the exact cutoff month — you’ll see “prior to February 2006,” “before March 2006,” and “before May 2006” across different sources — so treat the date as a clue, not proof. The lower housing is the more reliable tell: RP19804’s is shorter and blue/off-white, RP46074’s is longer and gray/off-white (Delta RP19804, Delta RP46074). Fit the wrong one and expect a cartridge that won’t seat or a handle with poor travel, not a working repair.

Delta RP46463 vs. RP32104. If a current 17-series trim was installed over a pre-transition rough valve, Delta’s own guidance says the old RP32104 cartridge (white top) may need to stay in place rather than being swapped for the current RP46463 (gray top) — don’t assume new trim automatically means the new cartridge (Delta RP46463 Q&A).

Moen 1222 vs. 1225 — and now M-Core. 1222 is for Posi-Temp rotate-only valves; 1225 is for push-pull standard and Moentrol valves. Danco’s own replacement for the 1225 states plainly that it will not work with Posi-Temp or ExactTemp, so this is a hard no-fit, not a minor mismatch (Moen shower cartridge guide). On newer installations, the same rotate-vs-push-pull operation can also mean M-Core 1212 or 1213 rather than legacy 1222/1225 — confirm the platform before you buy.

Kohler Rite-Temp generations. The current one-piece GP800881/K-8305-NA cartridge does not belong in an older K-304 valve, which uses a separate mixer cap and pressure-balancing unit instead, now commonly sold together as kit GP876851 (Kohler K-304 service instructions). A separate trap: GP1016515 looks like a shower part number online but is actually a 35 mm single-control faucet valve, not a Rite-Temp shower cartridge — don’t order it for a dripping shower (Home Depot GP1016515).

Pfister 974-0420’s successor — hedge this one. Pfister Q&A and retailer listings don’t agree on a single replacement number for the discontinued 974-0420: some sources point to 974-5299 (metal stem), others to 974-5319 (plastic stem), and Home Depot/Pfister Q&A describes the two as interchangeable except for stem material. Confirm with your current supplier which one is in stock rather than assuming a single “correct” successor (Pfister 974-0420 Q&A).

Symmons Temptrol vs. Safetymix. Temptrol uses the TA-10 spindle; Safetymix uses the older C-5 spindle. Both are brass with a 12-point broach, so spindle length and valve family are the safer ways to tell them apart than color or finish alone.

Gerber Treysta vs. older 49-series. GA510015 is specific to the Treysta valve system and is not a drop-in for older Safetemp 49-series cartridges (97-014 or G0097013) — check which platform your valve uses before ordering.

Measuring a Cartridge You’ve Already Removed

If the cartridge is already out and the trim gave you no clear brand match, measure it rather than guess. The features that actually discriminate between families are overall body length, the largest body diameter, the stem’s spline or broach count, the retaining-clip groove, and the O-ring positions — not the height listed on a retail box, which is often a packaging or listing dimension rather than the cartridge’s true insertion length (Moen’s own 1225 installation guide centers on tabs, valve slots, and retaining-clip alignment, not a single stated length).

Photograph the cartridge from the front, side, rear, stem, and O-ring side before cleaning it. Molded numbers, stamped numbers, and colored caps can disappear under mineral scale. Common measuring mistakes include treating package dimensions as body dimensions, assuming diameter alone proves compatibility, ignoring the retainer clip or bonnet style, counting splines from a stripped handle, and measuring a broken cartridge that’s missing its rear seal section. Use a caliper for diameter if you have one — a tape measure is fine for rough routing, but small errors matter on stems and O-ring grooves, since similar-looking cartridges are routinely assigned to different valve platforms.

Universal and Aftermarket Cartridges — When They Actually Fit

No cartridge on this chart is truly universal across brands, and treating one as a drop-in substitute for another is the single fastest way to end up back at the hardware store (This Old House on shower cartridge compatibility). “Cross-referenced replacement” is the more accurate term than “universal.” Aftermarket cartridges are legitimate when the maker explicitly cross-references the OEM number and the valve family — Danco’s Moen-cartridge line, for example, cross-references 1222 and 1225 separately and states its 1225 replacement will not work in a Posi-Temp valve (Danco MO-8). Pfister’s current 974-5299 is itself an OEM backward-compatible replacement for several older Pfister cartridges according to Home Depot, which is a stronger compatibility case than a generic aftermarket guess.

Replacing the whole cartridge isn’t always the first repair, either. A dripping Delta 13/14 sometimes just needs new RP4993 seats and springs after flushing debris out of the valve; a dripping Symmons Temptrol may only need TA-9 washers rather than the full TA-10 spindle; a Moen Posi-Temp handle that drops out of position can sometimes be fixed with a handle brake kit instead of a new cartridge. And if hot and cold come out reversed after a repair, rotating the cartridge 180 degrees is the official manufacturer fix on several Moen, Delta, and Gerber cartridges — not a workaround (Moen reverse hot and cold for 1222).

The honest failure modes when the wrong or a poorly matched cartridge goes in: it won’t seat, won’t accept the retaining clip, leaks immediately, reverses hot and cold, or drifts in temperature. Moen’s own instructions warn not to force the retaining clip if the cartridge isn’t aligned, and This Old House notes that installing a cartridge in the wrong orientation can reverse hot and cold water at the shower head (Moen 1225 installation guide, This Old House cost guide).

When Identification Isn’t Solvable Without a Plumber

Some showers can’t be identified from a photo, no matter how good the chart is: unbranded builder-grade valves, painted-over escutcheons, damaged retaining hardware, a cartridge that breaks apart on removal, or a rough-in valve that’s been mixed and matched across repairs over the years. This Old House lists severe corrosion, unusual setups, and older plumbing systems among the reasons to call a professional rather than keep guessing (This Old House shower valve repair guide).

Keep the cost expectations separate. A short diagnostic visit tends to run near a plumber’s service minimum — HomeGuide cites plumbers generally at $45-$150 per hour with $50-$200 minimum call-out fees (HomeGuide plumber cost). A completed cartridge replacement, parts and labor included, is a different number: HomeGuide cites $100-$350 total, This Old House cites $200-$400, and Angi cites $100-$400 with an average around $275 (HomeGuide shower cartridge cost, Angi shower cartridge cost). Don’t treat the diagnostic minimum as the full repair price — they answer different questions.

What to Do Next

Once you’ve matched a row in the chart, head to that brand’s guide for the full identification method and confirmed part numbers — the links are built into the table above. Still uncertain which exact part you need? Find your exact cartridge with our free Repair Finder before you buy, so you don’t make a second trip to the hardware store. If you’re still not sure after the trim check, how to identify your shower valve and cartridge walks through a slower, seven-point inspection method that works across brands. And if the cartridge turns out to be sound but you’re weighing a full valve swap instead, should I repair or replace my shower valve lays out the honest cost comparison.

For the general repair sequence once you know your part — shutting off water, pulling the cartridge, and reassembling — see the shower repair guide.

Sources

• Delta cartridge finder
• Delta RP19804 official product page
• Delta RP46074 official product page
• Delta RP46463 official product page
• Moen shower cartridge guide
• Moen 1225 shower cartridge installation guide
• Moen reverse hot and cold for a 1222 cartridge
• Kohler GP800881 official product page
• Kohler K-304 service instructions
• Kohler 1/2 in. vs. 3/4 in. cartridge size guide
• Pfister 974-0420 replacement Q&A
• American Standard Ultramix cartridge
• Grohe TurboStat thermostatic cartridge
• Symmons glossary (TA-10, Temptrol, Safetymix)
• Gerber temperature-limit instructions
• Gerber Treysta cartridge instructions
• Peerless RP70538 official product page
• This Old House: shower cartridge replacement cost
• This Old House: how to repair a shower valve
• HomeGuide: plumber cost
• HomeGuide: shower cartridge replacement cost
• Angi: shower cartridge replacement cost

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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