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Quick answer from a licensed plumber: Take the handle off and look at what holds the cartridge. A U-shaped copper clip means a 1225. A retainer nut on a single-handle faucet means one of Moen’s newer cartridges: the 1255 Duralast family (kits 1255, 160657, 150257 or 205013, told apart by the nut and, for the 205013, the faucet type), the 4000/40002 or the 210381 on kitchen faucets, or the 202233, 212555 or 1269 on bathroom levers from 2021 on. The nut style, the faucet’s age and the model number decide which; a brass hex nut can be a 4000/40002 or a 150257 kit. On a two-handle faucet, a white plastic stem is a 1224 and a stainless stem is a 1234.
Brass-nut Duralast faucet? Moen lists the 150257 kit for models 7170, 7597 and S5170. See the Moen 150257 on Amazon
Moen Faucet Cartridges at a Glance
Moen’s kitchen and bathroom cartridge charts identify cartridges by what you can check at the sink: how far the handle swings and what holds the cartridge in once the handle is off.
| Cartridge | Where Moen lists it | How to recognize it |
|---|---|---|
| 1225 | Single-handle kitchen and bath (introduced 1981) | Held by a U-shaped copper clip. Handle swings 180° on top-mount handles (360° on the 7300 kitchen and 4400/4500 bath series) |
| 1255 family (Duralast) | Single-handle kitchen and bath (after 2009) | Held by a retainer nut that differs by kit (black hex, black round, or brass hex); handle swings 110° (top mount) or 100° (side mount) |
| 4000 / 40002 | Single-handle kitchen | Held by a hexagonal brass nut (the 150257 kit’s nut is also brass hex, so check the model number); 110° handle swing; the two are interchangeable |
| 210381 | Kitchen side-mount handle (2022) | Brass nut with two distinct flat areas; 90° side-mount handle |
| 202233 / 212555 | Bathroom top-mount lever (2021 / 2023) | Black cartridge, white stem, gray bottom, black non-metallic hex nut |
| 1269 | Bathroom top-mount lever (2025) | Black cartridge, natural stem, white bottom, black non-metallic hex nut |
| 1224 | Two-handle kitchen and bath | White plastic stem |
| 1234 | Two-handle (select models since 2014) | Black cartridge with a stainless steel stem |
Single-Handle Faucets: 1225 or the 1255 Family?
This is the easiest mix-up to make. Both fit single-handle Moen faucets. Moen’s charts give three tells:
- What holds it in. The 1225 is held by a U-shaped copper clip. The 1255 family is held by a retainer nut whose style depends on the kit (chart below). The 4000 and 40002 use a hexagonal brass nut, and so does the 150257 kit, so check your model number against the 150257 list before ordering.
- How far the handle swings. Moen lists 180° for a top-mount 1225 handle (360° on the 7300 kitchen series and the 4400 and 4500 bathroom series) and about 110° for the 1255 family on a top-mount handle.
- When the faucet was made. The 1225 dates to 1981. Moen lists the 1255 family as introduced after 2009, with dates that vary by product category.
The 1255 Family: Pick the Right Service Kit
Moen sells the Duralast cartridge under four kit numbers, and the kits differ in the retainer nut, not the cartridge. Moen says the retainer nut must be replaced during the repair and that the nuts are not interchangeable, so you have to identify the correct kit. From Moen’s nut chart and its kitchen chart (205013):
| Kit | What Moen shows |
|---|---|
| 1255 | Black, non-metallic, hex top |
| 160657 | Black, non-metallic, round top with lugs inside (no hex) |
| 150257 | Brass, metallic, hex top; Moen lists models 7170, CA7170, S7170, 7597, CA7597, S7597 and S5170 |
| 205013 | Kitchen only: top-handle pullout-sprayer faucets after 2009 (except the Dorsey 87007/CA87007 and Torrance 87666/CA87666, which use a 4000) |
Match your old nut to this chart before ordering; the nut decides among the 1255, 160657 and 150257. Moen assigns the 205013 by faucet type instead: a top-handle kitchen faucet with a pullout sprayer made after 2009, except the Dorsey and Torrance.
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Newer Moen Bathroom Cartridges
Recent Moen bathroom faucets with a top-mount lever use cartridges that look alike, and Moen says the 202233 and 212555 are not interchangeable. The 202233 (2021) and 212555 (2023) are both black cartridges with a white stem, a gray bottom and a black non-metallic hex nut; the 1255 kit’s nut is also black, non-metallic and hex, so do not order a 1255 on the nut alone. Moen says the way to tell the 202233 and 212555 apart is a component number printed in very small type on the rim above the hexagonal protrusion: 1000149 (A) means 202233, and 200485 (A) means 212555. Moen lists its 118305 tool or a 7/8″ socket for that nut. The 1269 (2025) has a natural-colored stem and a white bottom, and Moen lists its 228305 tool (included with the cartridge) or a 25 mm socket.
Two-Handle Faucets: 1224 or 1234?
Take the handle and the handle parts off and look at the stem. Moen’s answer is short: you will see either a white plastic stem or a stainless steel stem. The white plastic stem is the 1224; the 1234 is a black cartridge with a stainless stem. Moen began using both in two-handle 4″ centerset bathroom faucets in 2015 and says they are not interchangeable, and its 8″ widespread valves moved to the 1234 in 2014. The 1224 is also the cartridge Moen lists for two-handle showers.
What to Buy
Genuine Moen parts only, matched to Moen’s charts. Replacing the whole faucet instead? Our kitchen faucet picks list the cartridge each Moen pick takes.
- Brass-nut 1255-family faucets (models 7170, 7597, S5170 and their variants): Moen 150257 cartridge, sold by Amazon.
- Kitchen faucets with the hex brass nut (4000 or 40002): Moen 4000 single-handle replacement cartridge, sold by Amazon. Its listing says it is designed for single-handle kitchen faucets; Moen says the 4000 and 40002 are interchangeable.
- 1225, 1255, 160657, 1224 and 1234: not linked. When we checked, the genuine 1225 carried a low-stock warning, the genuine 1255 listings had no buy box or only a low-stock offer, the genuine 1234 listing had no buy box, and the genuine 1224 listing said returns would not be honored. Most other results were “compatible with Moen” copies. Buy these from a plumbing supply or hardware store where you can compare the old part in hand.
Parts You’ll Also Need
Of the cartridges on this page, Moen lists its 104421 puller only for the 1225.
- A cartridge puller for a stuck 1225: Moen says its 104421 puller removes the 1200, 1225 and 1222. The Danco Moen cartridge puller (86712) is an Amazon-sold alternative; its listing describes it for Moen Posi-Temp tub and shower cartridges in the 1200, 1222 and 1225 series, so it is built for the same 1225 cartridge.
When to Call a Licensed Plumber
- The shut-off valves under the sink will not close fully, or they leak once you touch them.
- The cartridge breaks in the faucet body and will not come out.
- The faucet body itself is cracked, or water shows up in the cabinet after the repair.
FAQ
How do I tell a Moen 1225 from a 1255 cartridge?
Look at what holds it in once the handle is off. Moen says the 1225 is held by a U-shaped copper clip and the 1255 family by a retainer nut. The handle swing helps too: Moen lists 180 degrees for a top-mount 1225 handle and about 110 degrees for the 1255 family.
Are Moen 1255, 160657 and 150257 the same cartridge?
Moen says they are the same Duralast cartridge packaged in different service kits, each with a different retainer nut. The nuts are not interchangeable and must be replaced during the repair, so match your old nut to the kit.
How do I know if I need a Moen 1224 or 1234?
Take the handle off and look at the stem. Moen says a white plastic stem means the 1224 and a stainless steel stem means the 1234. They are not interchangeable.
Are the Moen 4000 and 40002 cartridges the same?
Moen says the 4000 and 40002 cartridges are interchangeable. Both are held by a hexagonal brass nut in single-handle kitchen faucets.
Where can I find which cartridge my Moen faucet uses if I know the model?
Moen’s kitchen and bathroom cartridge charts list cartridges by handle type and, for some kits, by model number: the 150257 kit lists models 7170, 7597 and S5170 and their variants, and the 205013 excludes the Dorsey and Torrance, which use a 4000. For a warranty replacement cartridge, Moen’s number is 1-800-BUY-MOEN.
Why Trust Plumbing Picks
Plumbing Picks is written by a licensed Georgia journeyman plumber. Every part number, marking and fit on this page comes from the manufacturer pages listed below, which we opened and read; product details come from the Amazon listings, not from hands-on testing. Each linked part was shipped or sold by Amazon and could be added to the cart with no low-stock warning when we checked on September 24, 2026. Nobody pays to be included here. Where a link goes to Amazon we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. More on who writes this and how we pick.
Sources
- Moen: Faucet Cartridges: Kitchen
- Moen: Faucet Cartridges: Bathroom
- Moen: Cartridge Replacement — 1224 or 1234 Cartridge?
- Moen: Using a 104421 Cartridge Removal Tool
Bottom Line
Moen faucet cartridges are identified by what holds them in: copper clip for the 1225; a retainer nut for the 1255 family, the 4000/40002, the 210381 and the newest bathroom cartridges (nut style, component number and model number tell those apart); and a white plastic versus stainless stem for the 1224 versus 1234. For the 1255 family, the retainer nut decides among the 1255, 160657 and 150257 kits; a top-handle kitchen faucet with a pullout sprayer made after 2009 takes the 205013, except the Dorsey and Torrance.