In diacetato-O,O'; O-(2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline-N,N')zinc(II), [Zn(C2H3O2)(2)(C14H12N2)], the zinc cation has a pentacoordinated environment consisting of the two N atoms of 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline, one O atom from a monodentate acetate group and two O atoms from a bidentate acetate group.