Yb3+ complexes with two nitrilotriacetic acid molecules were prepared and their compositions were determined as K-3[Yb(nta)(2)(H2O)] . 5H(2)O and Na-3[Yb(nta)(2)] . 6H(2)O by elemental analyses. Their structures were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. In complex K-3[Yb(nta)(2)(H2O)] . 5H(2)O, the YbN2O7 part forms a nine-coordinate monocapped square antiprismatic structure. In complex Na-3[Yb(nta)(2)] . 6H(2)O, the YbN2O6 part forms an eight-coordinate square antiprismatic structure. It can be seen that the outer cations (K+ and Na+) greatly affect the coordination number and coordinate structure from these results.