Which shower valve is better, Delta or Moen?

Which shower valve is better, Delta or Moen, depends on priorities, but most plumbers and consumer reports rank Moen slightly better for long-term reliability, while Delta is better for innovation and features. Delta Faucet Company, founded in 1954 in Indianapolis and owned by Masco, makes Delta shower valves like Delta MultiChoice Universal valve that is very popular, offering Diamond Seal Technology, Monitor pressure-balancing, and TempAssure thermostatic options, with features like Touch2O and ShieldSpray. Delta valves cost $50 to $150 for valve only, are widely available at Home Depot and Lowe's, have excellent parts availability, and 4.6 stars average. Moen, founded in 1937 in Ohio and owned by Fortune Brands, makes Moen shower valves like Moen M-Pact and Moen Posi-Temp pressure-balancing valve, known for extremely durable 1222 cartridge tested to hundreds of thousands of cycles, excellent customer service with free replacement parts, and limited lifetime warranty. Moen valves cost $60 to $160. Plumber surveys on PlumbingZone rank Moen Posi-Temp as most reliable with fewest callbacks and 15 to 20 year cartridge life, while Delta is close second. For innovation and easier installation, Delta MultiChoice Universal that fits multiple trim styles is better. For raw durability and warranty service, Moen is slightly better. Both are excellent, far better than Glacier Bay or off-brands. So Moen is slightly better for reliability, Delta slightly better for features and value.