All above-ground pool liners are not the same.  The most common style is the over-lap, with the hung and beaded liners steadily gaining in popularity.

 

 

 

                                  

Hung                                        Beaded

 

 

Overlap: Overlap liners are made so that the excess liner material on the pool wall, simply overlaps the pool wall. If your pool has a 48" or a 52" wall, it uses the same liner.

 

Hung: Also known as J-hook & V-bead: Hung liners are made with a heavy hook formed at the top of the liner to snap over the pool wall. You can use hung liners to replace overlap liners with no additional equipment. However a 48" pool requires a 48" liner, and a 52" pool requires a 52" liner.

 

Beaded: Beaded liners are made with a bead at the top of the liner which snaps into a channel (Bead Receiver) at the top of the pool wall. This liner can be used to replace other beaded liners without additional equipment. This liner can replace an overlap or a hung liner with the addition of a bead receiver kit. This liner must also be purchased in 48" or 52".