Kenmore Refrigerator Water Filter Guide: 9010, 9030 & 9081 Explained

Q: Can I use an everydrop filter instead of buying a Kenmore-branded one?

Usually yes, once the cross-reference is confirmed against the specific model number. Since the two are typically the same manufactured part with a different label, the everydrop equivalent will generally fit and perform the same.

Q: Why does my Kenmore filter twist instead of push in?

That mechanical style points to the 9081 or everydrop-4 family, a screw-in design descended from the older Maytag and Amana UKF8001 cartridge. Push-in Kenmore filters use a different housing entirely.

Updated July 2026 · ClearTap editorial · Kenmore compatibility

Kenmore Refrigerator Water Filter Guide: 9010, 9030 & 9081 Explained — Filter Cartridges

The Kenmore fridge in your kitchen almost certainly wasn't built by "Kenmore" — Sears never made appliances, it badged them. That's why the filter box at the hardware store lists a Kenmore number next to a completely different brand name in small print, and why two shoppers holding "the Kenmore filter" can walk out with two incompatible cartridges. The badge on the door tells you nothing about what's behind it.

Short answer: Kenmore refrigerators were mostly built by Whirlpool, so their filters are rebadged versions of the everydrop/EDR line: Kenmore 9010 cross-references to EDR1RXD1 (everydrop 1), Kenmore 9030 to EDR3RXD1 (everydrop 3), and Kenmore 9081 to EDR4RXD1 (everydrop 4). All three are rated for roughly 200 gallons / 6 months and certified to NSF/ANSI 42 and 53. Confirm with your model sticker before buying — the four-digit suffix, not the "Kenmore" name, decides fit.

Reviewed by the ClearTap editorial team. We publish plain specs, model compatibility and NSF/EPA-based standards so you can judge for yourself — no lab-test theatre and no upsell. We do not run a water lab; our guidance is built from published specifications and NSF/EPA standards, not invented tests. General information about water quality only, not medical or drinking-water advice: for legal or health decisions about your water, test it with a certified laboratory.

Why "Kenmore" isn't really a filter brand

For decades, Sears sold Kenmore-branded refrigerators manufactured under contract, overwhelmingly by Whirlpool, with smaller runs from LG and Frigidaire. The water filter housing inside is whatever the actual manufacturer designed, and Kenmore simply printed its own part number on the retail box. That's why searching "Kenmore water filter" surfaces cartridges that are functionally identical to Whirlpool and everydrop filters sold under different names — same carbon block, same housing, same NSF certification, different sticker.

The three Kenmore numbers that cover most models

Kenmore number	Cross-reference	Insertion style	Typical fridge type
9010 / 46-9010	EDR1RXD1, everydrop 1, W10295370A	Push-in, quarter-turn	Whirlpool-built side-by-side
9081 / 46-9081	EDR4RXD1, everydrop 4, UKF8001	Twist-in (screw)	Maytag/Amana-style bottom-freezer
9030 / 46-9030	EDR3RXD1, everydrop 3	Push-button release	Older push-button side-by-side
9020 / 46-9020	EDR2RXD1, everydrop 2	Push straight in	French-door Whirlpool-built

These cross-references are publicly documented by filter suppliers and reflect how the OEM licensing works, not a guess — but a four-digit Kenmore model prefix can span more than one appliance generation, so treat the table as a strong starting point and verify against your actual sticker, not the fridge's general shape.

Finding your number in under a minute

Pull the old cartridge. Kenmore filters are usually printed with their own 90xx number directly on the housing — the fastest, most reliable check.
Feel how it comes out. A cartridge that unscrews with a real twist points to the 9081/everydrop-4 family; one that pops out with a push and a quarter-turn or straight pull points to 9010, 9020 or 9030.
Read the appliance model tag — usually inside the fridge on a side wall, or behind the kick plate — and match the full model number against a filter finder, since the Kenmore model number (not the filter's own number) is what most compatibility charts index on.

Why we point you to cross-references instead of a bench test: We don't run a lab, so we can't independently verify carbon depth or flow rate between a Kenmore-badged filter and its everydrop twin. What we can tell you with confidence is the documented OEM relationship — Whirlpool built the appliance, Whirlpool built the filter, and the NSF certification travels with the cartridge regardless of which name is printed on the box.

Kenmore vs generic aftermarket: what actually differs

	Genuine Kenmore/everydrop	Certified aftermarket	Uncertified "compatible" generic
Typical price	$40–55	$15–25	$8–14
NSF certification	42/53/401, own listing	Own NSF listing, verifiable	Often claimed, not verifiable
Fit risk	None — OEM housing	Low, if built for the exact number	Higher — molds vary
Rated life	~200 gal / 6 mo	Usually matched	Often overstated

A certified aftermarket cartridge that lists its own NSF/ANSI numbers is a reasonable trade of price for performance. A generic that only claims "fits Kenmore 9010" with no certification listed is a fitment promise, not a filtration promise — the same distinction that applies across the whole cartridge category, not just Kenmore.

When to change it

The 200-gallon / 6-month rating assumes moderate use on reasonably clean feed water. A large household running the ice maker and dispenser heavily can burn through that in four months; well-water feed with any iron or sediment shortens it further. Treat the calendar as a ceiling, not a rule — flow slowing at the dispenser or a returning chlorine taste both mean it's time, whichever comes first. If your fridge runs on well water, pair this with our guide on how often to change a refrigerator filter for the feed-water adjustments.

Common mistakes

Buying by the Kenmore name alone. "Kenmore" describes the retailer relationship, not a single filter design — there are at least four distinct housings sold under it.
Guessing from fridge shape. Two visually similar Kenmore side-by-sides from different production years can take different cartridges. The sticker settles it.
Forcing a twist-in where a push-in belongs. If it resists, it's the wrong number — cranking on it can crack the manifold.
Assuming all "compatible" listings are certified. Look for the seller's own NSF/ANSI numbers, not just a fitment claim.

FAQ

Is a Kenmore filter the same as an everydrop filter?

Functionally, in most cases, yes. Kenmore refrigerators were largely built by Whirlpool, and the filters sold under the Kenmore name are typically the same cartridges Whirlpool sells as everydrop, just relabeled. The Kenmore 9081, for example, cross-references to the everydrop 4 / EDR4RXD1.

Can I use an everydrop filter instead of buying a Kenmore-branded one?

Usually yes, once you've confirmed the cross-reference matches your specific model number. Since the two are typically the same manufactured part with a different label, the everydrop equivalent will generally fit and perform the same, and is sometimes easier to find in stock.

Why does my Kenmore filter twist instead of push in?

That mechanical style points to the 9081/everydrop-4 family, a screw-in design descended from the older Maytag/Amana UKF8001 cartridge. Push-in Kenmore filters (9010, 9020, 9030) use a different housing entirely.

How do I find my exact Kenmore filter number?

Pull the current cartridge and read the number printed on it — that's the most reliable source. If it's missing, find your refrigerator's full model number on the appliance sticker and match it through a manufacturer or retailer filter finder rather than guessing from the fridge's general style.

Related:

General information based on manufacturer specifications, published OEM cross-references and NSF/ANSI standards, not independent lab testing or medical advice. Filter numbering and availability can change across production years; verify against your appliance's model sticker before buying. For health or legal decisions about your water, test it through a state-certified laboratory.