The title compound, [Yb(C5HF6O2)(2)(C20H14N4)(H2O)]Cl center dot CH3OH center dot H2O, adopts an eight-coordinated geometry around the Yb-III atom consisting of a 4'-(4-pyridyl)-2,2': 6',2 ''-terpyridine (pytpy) ligand, two 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoroacetylacetonate (hfac) anions and an aqua ligand. In the solid state, the compound forms supramolecular chains running along the b-axis via intermolecular hydrogen bonds between the Yb-OH2 unit and the N-atom donor of the 4-pyridyl pendant of pytpy, with an O center dot center dot center dot N distance of 2.686 (4) angstrom. A chloride counter-anion and lattice methanol and water solvent molecules occupy a hydrophilic columnar space along the coordination chains. O-H center dot center dot center dot 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.