9 Types of Pool Liners and How to Pick the Best One

If you’re planning to install a swimming pool soon—or your current one needs a refresh—it’s worth looking at the different types of pool liners available. Pool liners help protect against leaks, make cleaning easier, and give your pool a more polished look. Here’s a look at nine common pool liner types, with the pros and cons of each. 

Why Do I Need a Pool Liner? 

A pool liner can do a lot for your backyard watering hole, including lengthening its lifespan and updating its appearance. A liner protects your pool walls and floor from leaks, makes it easier to scrub off algae, and feels comfortable underfoot.

Having said that, not every type of pool is required to have a liner. A liner is a key component of a vinyl-lined pool, of course. But if you have a concrete pool, a liner is optional (although it can help your pool last longer). Homeowners who do include liners in their concrete pools often go with tile liners or waterproofing plaster.

1. Beaded or Hung Vinyl Liner

Beaded vinyl liners are known for their decorative embellishments and replicate the look and feel of tile. This type of pool liner has a groove or bead design that snaps into a corresponding track or bead receiver installed directly into the pool foundation. Thanks to this design feature, they’re easier to install than other options, but they’re also more costly than alternatives with similar life spans. 

Pros of beaded vinyl liners:

• Easy to install

• Available in many designs

• Easy to change from existing liner

Cons of beaded vinyl liners:

• More costly than alternatives

• Can create gaps where corrosion can occur

• Needs to be cut to fit exactly, which can be difficult

Best For: Above ground pools with bead receivers

2. Overlap Vinyl Liner

Overlap vinyl liners are exactly what they sound like—a large sheet of vinyl liner that fits directly into the pool with a slight overlap over the edges. Once fitted to the pool interior, it’s secured to the wall with coping strings before the excess is removed. This type of pool liner is less expensive than similarly performing alternatives, but removing the excess can be difficult to do neatly, even for the pros.

Pros of overlap vinyl liners:

• Less expensive than alternatives

• Fits a variety of pool heights

• DIY-able

Cons of overlap vinyl liners:

• Can be difficulty to install neatly

• Excess liner can be visible on the outside of the pool

• Requires coping strips to install

Best For: People looking to DIY their pool lining

3. Expandable Liner

This is another type of overlap liner that stretches to fit deeper-than-normal pools—up to 72 inches deep on average.

Pros of expandable liners:

• Budget-friendly

• Works for pools with deeper areas

Cons of expandable liners:

• Needs to be installed on a sunny day for optimal results

• There may be a few wrinkles in the liner after installing

Best For: Pools with deep ends

4. J-Hook Vinyl Liner

This type of above ground pool liner is characterized by an upside-down, J-shaped hook that clicks onto the edges of a pool. Although the installation process is similar to that of beaded liners, they don’t require an additional track or bead receiver to attach to the foundation of your pool. Simply drape the J-hooks over the edge of your pool, and your work is done. 

Pros of J-hook vinyl liners:

• No additional hardware required

• Easy to install

Cons of J-hook vinyl liners:

• Possibility for excess liner if improperly measured

• Have a fixed wall height and therefore can’t be adjusted

Best For: Homeowners with above ground pools who are on a budget

5. Unibead Vinyl Liner

This type of vinyl liner for above ground pools can function like J-hook and beaded liners. If you have a track or bead receiver already installed on your pool, the design of this liner is already adapted to fit right on. If not, it functions like a J-hook liner, and you can simply drape it over the edge of your pool.

Pros of unibead vinyl liners:

• Can be used regardless of current liner type

• Versatile, since it combines features of different liner types

Cons of unibead vinyl liners:

• Can be more expensive

• Needs to be installed on a sunny day for optimal results

Best For: Pools that need their current liners replaced

6. Tile Liner

Photo: Gema Ibarra / EyeEm / Getty Images

If you’re installing a concrete pool, lining it with tile will provide more protection (and require fewer replacements) than a vinyl pool liner. There are many different types of pool tiles to choose from, and while all offer similar (if not identical) benefits, they range greatly in price. The average cost to install pool tile ranges from $2,000 to $5,000.

Pros of tile liners:

• More protective than vinyl liners

• Many types of tiles available

Cons of tile liners:

• More expensive than vinyl liners

• Take longer to install than vinyl liners

Best For: Homeowners with concrete pools who want a stylish, finished look

7. Waterproofing Plaster

If you’re content with how a concrete pool looks but would still like to give it an extra layer of protection, consider waterproofing plaster. Doing so can create a defensive barrier on the floors and walls of your pool up to 25 mm thick, and it’s a less expensive alternative than both vinyl and tile liners. On average, waterproofing plaster costs between $500 and $1,000 or about $4 per square foot of material.

Pros of waterproofing plaster:

• Less expensive than vinyl and tile liners

• Adds a layer of protection

Cons of waterproofing plaster:

• Not many color options

• Can be costly to repair

Best For: Concrete pools in need of extra protection

8. DuoBead Liner

A duobead liner can be used either folded or unfolded. When folded it functions as a regular bead liner by attaching to a bead receiver. When unfolded it works like a unibead/ J-hook liner by hanging on the wall itself without any further materials needed.

Pros of duobead liners:

• Versatile methods of installation

• DIY-able

Cons of duobead liners:

• Needs to be installed on a sunny day for optimal results

• One of the pricier liner options

Best For: People who want a variety of liner installation options

9. EZ-Bead Liner

EZ-bead pool liners have two types of beads in one. They can either be used as a standard bead liner that attaches to a bead receiver or as a J-hook. Regardless of the way you use it, it doesn’t need to be modified, as it is made to be used both ways.

Pros of EZ-bead liners:

• Versatile installation options

• DIY-able

Cons of EZ-bead liners:

• Needs to be installed on a sunny day for optimal results

• One of the pricier liner options

Best For: People who want a variety of installation options without extra materials

What to Consider Before Choosing a Pool Liner

There are a handful of factors to consider before selecting a pool liner, including how thick you want it to be, if you’re looking for a specific color and design, and what your budget is. 

Desired Thickness 

Measurements for vinyl pool liners are in mils (one-thousandth of an inch) rather than millimeters. Thickness ranges from 20 to 30 mils, and choosing a thicker option over a thinner one is ideal, as it will provide better protection and won’t tear or break as easily. 

Color and Style

It’s important to think about the style you’re trying to achieve before picking a pool liner, because each option offers different aesthetics. While many vinyl pool liners imitate the look and feel of tile, they can often fall short of the real thing. Conversely, concrete pools technically don’t need extra protection, but you may want to add a vinyl liner to add color and flair without spending as much as you would on tile liners. 

Cost 

New or replacement vinyl pool liners cost $1,000 to $3,600 on average, with J-hook and beaded options on the higher end of the spectrum and overlap options on the lower end. Tile liners typically range from $2,000 to $5,000 for both materials and installation.

Although it’s possible to install a pool liner yourself, there’s more room for error if you don’t have all of the skills or tools necessary for a successful installation. When in doubt, hire a pool liner installer in your area to ensure this task gets the attention it needs.

Audrey Bruno contributed to this piece.