Best 400-Count Tea Bags UK: PG Tips vs Tetley

Source: Teas.co.uk, an independent UK tea specialist in Tunbridge Wells. Canonical: https://teas.co.uk/wiki/best-400-tea-bags-uk/

Bulk tea is a stock-management decision disguised as a bargain. Compare total tea weight, cups per day, storage and live price before letting “400” do all the thinking.

The honest two-box shortlist

Only PG Tips and Tetley support a live 400-bag comparison in the current shop. Typhoo is not padded into the ranking because its live Original pack is a different size. A short, exact shortlist is more useful than a longer list built from unavailable or mismatched products.

Bag count is not tea weight

Both boxes contain 400 bags, yet PG Tips states 1.16kg and Tetley 1.25kg. That works out at roughly 2.9g and 3.1g per bag respectively from the pack totals. It does not predict which cup you will prefer, but it is a real physical difference that a sticker-price comparison misses.

How long will 400 bags last?

At four cups a day, one box lasts about 100 days; at eight cups, about 50. A small office can move through it quickly, while one occasional drinker may keep it open for more than a year. Estimate real weekday and weekend consumption, then keep most bags sealed while refilling a smaller caddy.

Price can move faster than this guide

Bulk lines can be promoted, repriced or temporarily unavailable. The figures shown are the 8 August shop snapshot, not a permanent claim that one brand is always cheaper. Open both live product pages before ordering and compare delivery economics as well as the box.

Relevant teas from our shop

These are not paid placements. They are current, in-stock examples that make the comparison concrete; each was selected because its format or flavour answers a distinct part of this guide.

PG Tips Original English Breakfast, 400 Tea Bags 1.16kg

The lowest-priced live 400-count box at this snapshot and a straightforward high-turnover PG Tips route.

Shop snapshot: £8.00 · in stock on 8 August 2026

View this tea in the shop

Tetley Original English Breakfast, 400 Tea Bags 1.25kg

Also 400 bags, but with 1.25kg stated tea weight versus 1.16kg for the PG Tips box; total weight belongs in the comparison.

Shop snapshot: £11.00 · in stock on 8 August 2026

View this tea in the shop

Prices and availability were checked on 8 August 2026 and can change. The product page is the source of truth at checkout.

The practical buying decision

• Choose PG Tips if today’s total spend and its familiar blend are your priorities.
• Choose Tetley if you prefer its cup or value the higher stated total tea weight.
• Buy smaller if the box will sit open for months in a warm or steamy cupboard.
• For an office, add a clearly labelled decaf and a caffeine-free herbal option rather than assuming one black tea serves everyone.

Shop the wider shelf and keep reading

Browse PG Tips, Tetley and the full Everyday Tea Bags shelf. The Tea Storage guide matters more with a box this large.

How we keep this guide useful

Teas.co.uk is the retailer and the editor of this guide. No brand paid for inclusion or position. We start with products that are published and in stock in our own shop, then separate comparable products by tea family, ingredients, format, caffeine position and intended use. “Best” means the best fit for a stated need within this dated shortlist—not a universal tasting result.

Product names such as Sleep, Digest, Defence, Detox or Immune are treated as range labels, not medical evidence. Always read the current ingredient, allergen and preparation information on the pack. If you are pregnant, take medicines or manage a health condition, check ingredients such as liquorice root with an appropriate clinician. Last editorial and catalogue review: 8 August 2026.

Download as PDF