This study used batch adsorption techniques to evaluate the potential suitability of tea waste as a low-cost adsorbent for the removal of gallium ions from aqueous solution. In addition, we also investigated the effects of process parameters, such as the initial concentration of gallium ions, adsorbent dose and temperature on adsorption performance. The experimental data were fitted with several adsorption isotherm models to describe the adsorption process of gallium ions onto the tea waste. The predictions of the Freundlich isotherm model satisfactorily matched the experimental observations. In addition, the kinetic data obtained at different initial concentrations were analyzed using pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order kinetic models. A pseudo-second-order model provided a good fit to the experimental results with correlation coefficients greater than 0.99. Thermodynamic parameters, including the Gibbs free energy, enthalpy, and entropy, indicated that the gallium adsorption of aqueous solutions onto tea waste was feasible, spontaneous and endothermic in the temperature range of 288 K to 318K. This study indicated that tea waste could be used as an effective and environmentally friendly adsorbent for the treatment of gallium-containing aqueous solutions.