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.

Cartridges are not a one-size-fits-all part: This Old House says plainly that “shower cartridges and valves are not universal” and that “different manufacturers may use varying sizes for both their valves and cartridges.” Several makers on this chart also have more than one cartridge generation — see the Delta, Moen, and Kohler rows. 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.

Linked part numbers in this chart open an Amazon search for that exact number; if the shower has to work today, take the number to a local plumbing supply counter instead. As an Amazon Associate, plumbingbythebook earns from qualifying purchases. Links below are affiliate links — they cost you nothing extra.

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. On a Delta, separate controls for volume and temperature point to the 17 series: Delta says its 17 Series cartridge, RP46463, “Allows for separate volume and temperature control” (Delta RP46463). A single handle that turns the water on and sets the temperature points to the 13/14 series instead. 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, take the handle off: This Old House’s repair steps have you “Turn off the water supply to the shower” and then “Remove the shower handle and escutcheon plate to expose the valve” (This Old House shower valve repair guide). Photograph the visible stem, retainer, and stop hardware before deciding whether to pull the cartridge. 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. Even Delta’s own RP19804 page gives the cutoff two ways — “produced before March 2006” in its description and “04/2006 and earlier” in its title (Delta RP19804) — so treat the date as a clue, not proof. Color is the more reliable tell, and an answer on Delta’s RP19804 page puts it that way: “The blue and white Delta RP19804 Valve Cartridge Assembly will only fit our Delta 1400 Series Valves that were installed before 2006”, while “The gray RP46074 Valve Cartridge Assembly fits our Delta MultiChoice Universal” valve bodies “installed after 2006” (Delta RP19804). 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 replacement for the 1225 says plainly that it “Will NOT work with Moen Posi-Temp and Exact-Temp faucets” (Danco MO-8). Treat that as a hard no-fit, not a minor mismatch. 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. Kohler services the older K-304 valve with a mixer cap and pressure balancing unit (PBU), or “the mixer cap and PBU kit (GP76851)” (Kohler K-304 service instructions). Kohler’s one-piece K-8305 cartridge is for a different valve: its spec sheet says it “Requires trim and any K-8300 valve body” (Kohler K-8305 spec sheet). A separate trap: Home Depot lists GP1016515 as “Compatible with select KOHLER 1-handle kitchen faucets” (Home Depot GP1016515). That makes it a kitchen-faucet part, not a Rite-Temp shower cartridge — don’t order it for a dripping shower.

Pfister 974-0420’s successor. Pfister’s own page for the discontinued 974-0420 names one replacement: “Discontinued and Replaced By 974-5299” (Pfister 974-0420). Pfister also names a plastic-stem cartridge, 974-5319: for its Rhen R89-1RHC trim, Pfister’s answer is “974-5319 (plastic stem) or the #974-5299 (metal stem)” (Pfister Rhen R89-1RHC). Start with 974-5299, and check your own trim’s parts listing before choosing 974-5319.

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. A box dimension can be far from the part’s own: Danco’s listing for its MO-8 cartridge gives a package height of 6.63 inches and a product length of 3.92 inches (Danco MO-8).

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 worth considering when the maker names the OEM number and the valves it will not fit. Danco’s MO-8, for example, says it “Replaces Moen kitchen, lavatory and tub/shower faucets OEM # 1225” and “Will NOT work with Moen Posi-Temp and Exact-Temp faucets” (Danco MO-8). Pfister’s 974-5299 is the maker’s own named replacement for the discontinued 974-0420 (see above), 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, look for the maker’s own fix before blaming the part. For the 1222, Moen’s instructions are to “remove and rotate the 1222 cartridge 180 degrees” (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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