How the tea batch calculator works
Brewing tea for a group uses the same leaf to water ratio as a single cup, just scaled up. This tool multiplies your serving size by the number of guests to get the total volume, then applies a leaf rate per liter for the strength you chose. It returns the total tea leaves, water, tea bag equivalent, and liters so you can fill a pot, urn, or dispenser with confidence.
How much tea for a crowd
A good starting point is about 6 to 7 grams of tea per liter of water for standard strength, a little less for a light brew and more for a strong one. For 20 cups of 240 ml that is roughly 4.8 liters of water and about 31 grams of tea, or around 15 tea bags. Always make a little extra, since people often come back for seconds.
Brewing a big batch
For large amounts, steep the leaves in a fraction of the water as a strong concentrate, then top up with hot water to the full volume. This avoids over steeping the whole batch and makes it easy to adjust strength at the end. Remove the leaves or bags once the steep time is up so the tea does not turn bitter while it sits.
Keeping a batch hot and fresh
An insulated urn or airpot holds tea hot for hours without cooking it. If you brew ahead, keep the concentrate separate and dilute to order, or hold the finished tea just below a simmer. For iced service, brew stronger and pour over ice, since the melt will dilute it.
Frequently asked questions
How much tea do I need for 20 people? About 31 grams of loose tea, or roughly 15 bags, brewed in about 4.8 liters of water for 20 cups at standard strength.
How many tea bags for a gallon? A US gallon is about 3.8 liters, so around 24 to 30 grams of tea, or 12 to 15 bags, for a balanced brew.
Should I brew a concentrate? For big batches, yes. A strong concentrate diluted to volume is easier to control than steeping many liters at once.
Related calculators: Tea Steeping, Iced Tea, Drink Batch.