The title compound, [Yb(C(5)HF(6)O(2))(2)(C(20)H(14)N(4))(H(2)O)]Cl·CH(3)OH·H(2)O, adopts an eight-coordinated geometry around the Yb(III) atom consisting of a 4'-(4-pyrid-yl)-2,2':6',2''-terpyridine (pytpy) ligand, two 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexa-fluoro-acetyl-acetonate (hfac) anions and an aqua ligand. In the solid state, the compound forms supra-molecular chains running along the b-axis via inter-molecular hydrogen bonds between the Yb-OH(2) unit and the N-atom donor of the 4-pyridyl pendant of pytpy, with an O⋯N distance of 2.686 (4) Å. A chloride counter-anion and lattice methanol and water solvent mol-ecules occupy a hydro-philic columnar space along the coordination chains. O-H⋯Cl hydrogen bonds occur. The two water molecules and the four trifluoromethyl groups are disordered over two sets of sites, each with different occupancy ratios.