The crystal structure of the title compound, [YbCl2(H2O)6]Cl, was determined at 110 K. Samples were obtained from evaporated aceto-nitrile solutions containing the title compound, which consists of a [YbCl2(H2O)6](+) cation and a Cl(-) anion. The cations in the title compound sit on a twofold axis and form O-H⋯Cl hydrogen bonds with the nearby Cl(-) anion. The coordination geometry around the metal centre forms a distorted square anti-prism. The ytterbium complex is isotypic with the europium complex [Tambrornino et al. (2014 ▶). Acta Cryst. E70, i27].
Keywords: chloride; crystal structure; hydrogen bonding; ytterbium(III).