A vinyl liner is replaced every 5 to 15 years. Published 2026 figures put a full job at about $5 per sq ft nationally ($7 in premium markets) — from roughly $700 for an above-ground overlap liner to $6,500-$9,000 for a large or custom inground pool. Tell us about your pool and we match you with local installers who do this work; you compare quotes and choose.
Published installed ranges by pool size (inground, liner and labour):
| Pool size | Surface area | Installed cost |
|---|---|---|
| 12 x 24 | 288 sq ft | $1,300 - $2,300 |
| 16 x 32 | 512 sq ft | $2,100 - $3,000 |
| 18 x 36 | 648 sq ft | $2,400 - $3,700 |
| 20 x 40 | 800 sq ft | $3,000 - $5,500 |
Above-ground pools run $700-$2,500 for the full job; a standard inground rectangular pool is $3,000-$5,500, or $4,000-$6,500 with the refill water. Source: published 2026 pool-liner cost guides (home-in-depth size tables, Swimply 2026 guide).
| Liner | Per sq ft installed | Expected life |
|---|---|---|
| Inground beaded liner (20 mil, standard shape) | $4.10 - $5.86 | 15 yrs |
| Inground beaded liner (27-28 mil) | $4.00 - $7.76 | 18 yrs |
| Inground premium liner (30 mil, steps or tanning ledge) | $8.13 - $12.70 | 20 yrs |
| Custom-fabricated liner (kidney or freeform) | $6.84 - $13.67 | 15 yrs |
| Above-ground beaded liner (27 mil) | $1.67 - $4.00 | 12 yrs |
| Above-ground overlap liner (20 mil) | $1.55 - $5.55 | 7 yrs |
| Extra | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Refill water | $60 - $350 city supply, $400 - $900 trucked in |
| Startup chemicals | $80 - $200 |
| Old liner disposal | $75 - $200 |
| Skimmer, return or gasket repair | $100 - $400 |
| Floor patching or vermiculite repair | $150 - $3,000 depending on damage |
| Rush liner order | $200 - $500 |
| Thickness upgrade (20 to 27/30 mil) | $200 - $700 |
| Custom-fabricated shape | $500 - $1,500 over a standard liner |
Hidden costs that appear after drain-down can add $400-$2,000 to an invoice. Ask for repairs to be itemised before the new liner goes in.
Twenty tools, no sign-up. Start with the liner area planner: it turns your dimensions into the liner area to order and the gallons to fill.
Length, width and depth in; liner area to order, gallons and fill plan out.
Per-sq-ft installed bands by liner type, plus removal and optional repairs.
Compares liner types on price, lifespan and upkeep.
What happens when, what needs a permit in NC, and what to check before fill.
Line-by-line questions to ask so hidden repair costs cannot appear later.
The honest maths on whether a liner is a homeowner job.
Raleigh, Cary, Apex, Wake Forest, Garner, Holly Springs, Morrisville, Fuquay-Varina, Knightdale, Wendell, Clayton, Durham and the surrounding North Carolina Triangle area.
A liner-for-liner swap is a maintenance replacement and normally needs none. Replacing wall panels, changing the shell, adding a light or touching the bonding does require a City of Raleigh permit and inspection.
Manufacturer warranties are published at 15-25 years and are pro-rated — the payout shrinks with age and does not transfer if you sell. An overlap liner is realistically 5-9 years, a beaded liner 10-15.
No. The manufacturer covers the liner only, and excludes labour, water and chemicals. Workmanship cover is the installer's own term (typically 1-3 years) — get it in writing.
Above-ground, maybe — DIY saves $250-$800 of labour. Inground liners are measured and fabricated to the pool, and some warranties require professional installation.
City supply runs $60-$350 to refill a pool; trucked-in water is $400-$900 when the supply or permit situation demands it. Confirm which is quoted.
Raleigh Pool Liner is a free matching service. We do not install liners and we do not sell them — we pass your job to local installers and you compare itemised quotes.