Line your pool with comfort and style
Pool liners help protect your pool from damage, leaks, mold, and algae—all while boosting your pool's appearance. Nothing lasts forever, however, so before you call in the pros, learn how to install a pool liner on your own in a few simple steps.
Before you jump at the opportunity to update your liner, you should know the signs that your pool liner needs replacing to avoid needlessly replacing it. A few of the most prominent signs include:
Tears, cracks, and punctures
Liner leaks
Stains or discoloration
Beading, wrinkling, and warpage
Additionally, pool liners last on average about 10 years. Even if you don’t see any of the above damage, if your liner is over a decade old, it’s time to replace.
On average, a vinyl pool liner replacement costs around $2,300, though it can range between $350 and $5,150 depending on factors like if you hire a professional or DIY, the pool’s size, and whether it’s an above or inground pool. Generally, above ground pool liners cost much less than inground pool liners.
Before you install your pool liner, it’s important to ensure you have the right measurements, choose the right type of pool liner, and choose the right time for the installation. You don’t want to install the wrong liner and have to start over—nor do you want to start the installation only for rain to completely stop your project in its tracks.
Getting the right measurements is perhaps one of the most technical and difficult elements of your installation. Choosing the wrong size liner will end up wasting your time, money, and energy. If you want to save on the cost of your project but still ensure you do a great job, it’s a good idea to refer to a professional for measurements.
You’ll find that all liners need a length, width, corner type, depth, wall height, and contour of the bottom for an accurate representation of your pool’s liner size. When measuring, measure the depth from the bead receiver.
There are three types of pool liners—overlap, beaded, and J-hook unibead pool liners—and each one comes with its own pros and cons. Overlap vinyl pool liners tend to be the most cost-friendly, but they’re a little harder to remove come time to replace your pool liner. Beaded liners use a track to install the liner, making them easier to repair or replace but also more costly. J-hook unibead pool liners clip to the edges of above ground pools and also cost more than overlap liners.
Always choose an installation date without rain in the forecast for at least four days. Draining your pool, removing the old liner, and installing the new one are all time-consuming steps that need days to complete.
Installing a pool liner the right way comes down to the type of pool you have and the type of liner you plan on using. Below, we’ve broken down the different steps for each type of pool and liner to help you get started.
With the help of a friend, you should be able to replace a pool liner in less than a day depending on its size and the time it takes to drain the pool. Always take a look at your pool's instruction manual on how to find the best size and type of pool liner replacement. Also, be sure to check your local laws on draining pools before starting.
Water is heavy, so before you can remove your existing pool liner, you must drain the pool. You can either use a submersible (sump) pump or rent a pump from a local home improvement store to drain the water out of your pool.
Unplug any electrical components in your pool, like the pump, lights, or timers.
Connect the sump pump to a garden hose per the included instructions.
Insert the sump pump into the center of your pool.
Use the garden hose to redirect water to a legally approved drain point.
Plug the pump into a GFCI outlet. Do not use extension cords for this, if possible.
Check on your pool regularly to avoid ruining the pump on an empty pool.
Once the water level is low, use a wet-and-dry vacuum to remove any remaining water.
With the water out of the way, now it’s time to tackle removing your old pool liner. This is a relatively easy job, as pool liners are made from thin plastic. Follow these steps to get your pool ready for the next phase.
Remove drains, skimmers, step seal strips, gaskets, lights, and face plates using a drill.
Keep the screws in a container to avoid losing them.
Remove the top plates, railing caps, and coping to reveal the edge of the old liner.
Use a utility knife to cut your old pool liner into rough quarters for easy removal.
Depending on the type of liner, pull it away from the bead or edge of the pool.
Make note of any sections of your pool that look damaged as you remove the old liner. You’ll need to repair your pool if you spot cracks or other signs of damage.
Discard the old liner in a trash receptacle.
With any repairs taken care of and your pool ready to go, you can finally get to laying the new liner. The best way to install pool liners is to start at the deep end—if your above ground pool has separate depths—but you should always follow the instructions that come with your pool liner to be on the safe side. Almost all inground pools use beaded liners, while above ground pools may use overlap liners, beaded liners, or J-hook unibead liners, which follow a similar installation method to beaded liners (described in the next section).
Check that your pool is free of debris before getting started.
Unroll the liner and straighten it into the correct position.
Inspect the new pool liner for signs of defects.
Double-check the size of the pool liner.
Remove alternating top rails and coping strips if this wasn't completed when removing the old liner.
Secure the pool liner with the removed coping strips, moving in sections around the pool.
Add water slowly into the pool to smooth out wrinkles from the liner.
Continue to smooth out wrinkles as the pool fills, moving from the center outward.
Once the water level reaches approximately six inches, wriggle out any remaining wrinkles and secure the excess overlap using the coping strips.
Reinstall the top plates and railing caps.
Line up the removed components of your pool with their old locations.
Cut the liner and reinstall the components.
J-Hook liners work very similar to overlap liners, but they stay in place evenly with less effort. At the top of your liner, you'll find a prefitted hook—in the shape of J or a U, for example—that secures over the edge of your pool wall. Here's how to attach it.
Inspect your pool for debris, defects, or damage.
Unrolls and place the pool liner on the floor of your pool.
Double-check the size of the liner and check for any defects.
Straighten the liner into the correct position.
If you didn't do so when removing the old liner, disconnect the pool top plates and railing caps.
Snap or hook the liner to the liner track or hooks, moving in sections around the outside of the pool.
Begin filling the pool with water and push out wrinkles from the material.
Add water slowly into the pool until it reaches six inches.
Cut the liner where the fittings and other components of your pool will be reinstalled.
Don’t forget to reinstall any skimmers, drains, gaskets, electrical components, lights, face plates, and more. Always wait until you’ve filled your pool to at least six inches to avoid making cuts to your pool liner before it’s stretched out.
Once you’ve set your new liner up for success, you’re free to fill your pool until it’s at the correct water level. You can either fill the rest of your pool with the hose or a water truck. Keep an eye out for leaks as you go.
A pool will lose between 1/4 to 1/2 inch of water per day from normal evaporation or usage. If you find your pool is losing more than that, contact a pool specialist who can use leak detection equipment to diagnose the issue.
Replacing an inground pool liner works similarly to the above ground pool methods, but may take a bit more time. Nearly all inground pool liners use a beaded connector to the edge of the liner. The design is easy for both removing and reinstalling a new liner.
Unplug all electrical components in your pool.
Insert the sump pump into the pool after connecting it to your hose.
Redirect water to a legally-approved drain point.
Plug the pump into a GFCI outlet.
Stay nearby to check on your pool periodically—it can take up to 30 hours to drain large inground pools.
Once the water level is low, open the hydrostatic relief valves with pliers.
Let groundwater enter your pool. This process is crucial to avoiding major structural pool damage known as pool pop.
Use the pump to get rid of the groundwater.
Follow up with a wet-and-dry vacuum for areas the pump couldn’t reach.
As we did before, you'll need to remove the old liner before getting started. We recommend bringing in a friend to help with the process, as you may need extra muscle to remove a liner that has been in place for many years.
Remove the frames and pool components such as the skimmer, lights, and pumps. Be sure to keep the power turned off to your pool's electrical elements.
Remove the seal strips around the steps of your pool.
Cut the old liner into three to four-foot squares and pull it away from the pool.
Discard the old liner as you go.
Since most inground pool liners come with an attachment bead, it is relatively easy to line it up and measure it properly.
Check your pool for debris, defects, or damage.
Place the pool liner on the floor of your pool, starting from the deep end, and double-check the size of the liner.
Use your team of at least three to pull the liner to all ends of the pool. It’s a good idea to take your shoes off for this process so as not to damage the liner.
Straighten the pool liner until it lines up with the shape of the pool.
Pull the pool liner up the wall of the pool and lock the liner into the bead track.
Work your way around the perimeter of the pool and secure the liner in place from the outside of the pool.
Pull out wrinkles by carefully tugging on the liner from the edge of the pool.
Insert a vacuum hose into the liner until it’s toward the bottom of the pool and secure it with duct tape.
Similarly, cover the skimmer with duct tape.
Use the wet-and-dry vacuum to remove any excess air from between the liner and the pool.
Add water slowly into the pool until it reaches at least six inches deep.
Cut the liner where the fittings, steps, and other components of your pool will be reinstalled.
In most cases, you'll need to replace the casings around your inground electrical components. They are often damaged during removal, so be ready for replacement before starting. Additionally, always be sure to work with a licensed electrician if you plan to work around lighting, pump, or filter wiring.
Depending on your local laws and preferences, you can either refill a pool with your garden hose or call in a water supply company. Since an inground pool requires far more water, remember to check with local laws when completing this process. Some areas will restrict when and how much water you can use to refill a pool during a dry season.
Pool liner installation may take concentration, but you can avoid several headaches if you work slowly. Wrinkles, poor fit, or even "floating liners," can lead to long-term issues with your pool itself. Here are some tips to keep everything in order.
Always check your user's manual before purchasing a new liner for both size and attachment details.
Ensure that there is no rain within four days of your liner replacement.
Avoid replacing the liner on a very hot day when the liner can expand.
Bring in a friend to lend an extra set of hands and assist with evenly placing the liner.
Repair issues to your pool before installing the new liner.
Move slowly when pressing wrinkles out of above ground pool liners to ensure it sits evenly.
Do not skip the sealing step with the wet-and-dry vac during the inground liner installation process.
Installing a liner yourself is risky, especially if you haven’t done a pool repair project like this before. Improper installation can result in voiding your pool liner (or pool) warranty, severe leaks, or damage to your surrounding property.
If you DIY the job, you may spend between $100 and $1,500 for the materials alone, with small above ground pools falling toward the lower end of the price range and large inground pools falling toward the higher end. If your liner is still new (under a year old), you can also consider patching your pool liner for much less.
Alternatively, if you decide to work with a local pool liner installation company, expect to pay anywhere between $30 to $50 per hour on top of the material costs to install your new pool liner.
Allie Ogletree contributed to this piece.
Yes, you can DIY a pool liner, with careful planning, measuring, adherence to a step-by-step process, and a few helping hands to get the job done. Keep in mind that the type of pool liner you choose could impact how easy it is for you to install. For example, beaded and J-hook liners hook to the edges of the pool either via an allotted bead receiver or hook. Overlap liners don’t use clips and can easily drape across your pool frame without an exact fit.
It’s best to avoid having wrinkles in a new pool liner. Since pool liners are very thin, it’s easy to have slight wrinkles in the liner upon initial installation. This might negatively affect your pool’s visual appearance and lead to tearing and holes in some cases. You’ll want to ensure proper measurements and accurate alignment during the installation process to prevent unsightly wrinkles from appearing.
Some pool professionals recommend adding an extra layer of comfort and protection between your pool and the vinyl liner. Made from a range of plastic blends, these liners can absorb moisture, allow the pool liner to breathe, and act as an extra barrier for pests, burrowing animals, and mildew. They also provide an extra layer of comfort for swimmers.
Avoid pool liner wrinkles by moving slowly as you attach the edge of the liner to the pool wall. Add a few inches of water during this process and slowly walk from the center of the pool to the walls, lightly pressing the liner as you go. For an inground pool with a beaded liner, you can also year a wet-and-dry vac to suction out the remaining groundwater and air between the liner and the pool foundation.
