diff --git a/internal/batcher/buffer_batcher.go b/internal/batcher/buffer_batcher.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bd0a471
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/batcher/buffer_batcher.go
@@ -0,0 +1,164 @@
+package batcher
+
+import (
+	"bufio"
+	"bytes"
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"io"
+	"time"
+)
+
+const (
+	// DefaultMaxBytes is 500KB; this is typically 250 to 500 lines.
+	DefaultMaxBytes = 500000
+	// DefaultInterval will flush every 10 seconds.
+	DefaultInterval = 10 * time.Second
+)
+
+var (
+	// ErrLineTooLong is the error returned when reading a line that exceeds MaxLineLength.
+	ErrLineTooLong = errors.New("batcher: line too long")
+)
+
+// BufferBatcher batches line protocol for sends to output.
+type BufferBatcher struct {
+	MaxFlushBytes    int           // MaxFlushBytes is the maximum number of bytes to buffer before flushing
+	MaxFlushInterval time.Duration // MaxFlushInterval is the maximum amount of time to wait before flushing
+	MaxLineLength    int           // MaxLineLength specifies the maximum length of a single line
+}
+
+// WriteBatches reads batches from r, passing them on to an arbitrary writeFn.
+func (b *BufferBatcher) WriteBatches(ctx context.Context, r io.Reader, writeFn func(batch []byte) error) error {
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(ctx)
+	defer cancel()
+
+	lines := make(chan []byte)
+
+	errC := make(chan error, 2)
+	go b.write(ctx, writeFn, lines, errC)
+	go b.read(ctx, r, lines, errC)
+
+	// we loop twice to check if both read and batcher have an error. if read exits
+	// cleanly, then we still want to wait for batcher.
+	for i := 0; i < 2; i++ {
+		select {
+		case <-ctx.Done():
+			return ctx.Err()
+		case err := <-errC:
+			// only if there is any error, exit immediately.
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// read will close the line channel when there is no more data, or an error occurs.
+// it is possible for an io.Reader to block forever; Write's context can be
+// used to cancel, but, it's possible there will be dangling read go routines.
+func (b *BufferBatcher) read(ctx context.Context, r io.Reader, lines chan<- []byte, errC chan<- error) {
+	defer close(lines)
+	scanner := bufio.NewScanner(r)
+	scanner.Split(ScanLines)
+
+	maxLineLength := bufio.MaxScanTokenSize
+	if b.MaxLineLength > 0 {
+		maxLineLength = b.MaxLineLength
+	}
+	scanner.Buffer(nil, maxLineLength)
+
+	for scanner.Scan() {
+		// exit early if the context is done
+		select {
+		// NOTE: We purposefully don't use scanner.Bytes() here because it returns a slice
+		// pointing to an array which is reused / overwritten on every call to Scan().
+		case lines <- []byte(scanner.Text()):
+		case <-ctx.Done():
+			errC <- ctx.Err()
+			return
+		}
+	}
+	err := scanner.Err()
+	if errors.Is(err, bufio.ErrTooLong) {
+		err = ErrLineTooLong
+	}
+	errC <- err
+}
+
+// finishes when the lines channel is closed or context is done.
+// if an error occurs while writing data to the write service, the error is sent in the
+// errC channel and the function returns.
+func (b *BufferBatcher) write(ctx context.Context, writeFn func(batch []byte) error, lines <-chan []byte, errC chan<- error) {
+	flushInterval := b.MaxFlushInterval
+	if flushInterval == 0 {
+		flushInterval = DefaultInterval
+	}
+
+	maxBytes := b.MaxFlushBytes
+	if maxBytes == 0 {
+		maxBytes = DefaultMaxBytes
+	}
+
+	timer := time.NewTimer(flushInterval)
+	defer func() { _ = timer.Stop() }()
+
+	buf := make([]byte, 0, maxBytes)
+
+	var line []byte
+	var more = true
+	// if read closes the channel normally, exit the loop
+	for more {
+		select {
+		case line, more = <-lines:
+			if more && string(line) != "\n" {
+				buf = append(buf, line...)
+			}
+			// batcher if we exceed the max lines OR read routine has finished
+			if len(buf) >= maxBytes || (!more && len(buf) > 0) {
+				timer.Reset(flushInterval)
+				if err := writeFn(buf); err != nil {
+					errC <- err
+					return
+				}
+				buf = buf[:0]
+			}
+		case <-timer.C:
+			if len(buf) > 0 {
+				timer.Reset(flushInterval)
+				if err := writeFn(buf); err != nil {
+					errC <- err
+					return
+				}
+				buf = buf[:0]
+			}
+		case <-ctx.Done():
+			errC <- ctx.Err()
+			return
+		}
+	}
+
+	errC <- nil
+}
+
+// ScanLines is used in bufio.Scanner.Split to split lines of line protocol.
+func ScanLines(data []byte, atEOF bool) (advance int, token []byte, err error) {
+	if atEOF && len(data) == 0 {
+		return 0, nil, nil
+	}
+
+	if i := bytes.IndexByte(data, '\n'); i >= 0 {
+		// We have a full newline-terminated line.
+		return i + 1, data[0 : i+1], nil
+
+	}
+
+	// If we're at EOF, we have a final, non-terminated line. Return it.
+	if atEOF {
+		return len(data), data, nil
+	}
+
+	// Request more data.
+	return 0, nil, nil
+}
diff --git a/internal/batcher/buffer_batcher_internal_test.go b/internal/batcher/buffer_batcher_internal_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8f601b7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/batcher/buffer_batcher_internal_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,261 @@
+package batcher
+
+import (
+	"bufio"
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"io"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+// errorReader mocks io.Reader but returns an error.
+type errorReader struct{}
+
+func (r *errorReader) Read(p []byte) (n int, err error) {
+	return 0, fmt.Errorf("error")
+}
+
+func TestBatcher_read(t *testing.T) {
+	type args struct {
+		cancel bool
+		r      io.Reader
+		max    int
+	}
+	tests := []struct {
+		name   string
+		args   args
+		want   []string
+		expErr error
+	}{
+		{
+			name: "reading two lines produces 2 lines",
+			args: args{
+				r: strings.NewReader("m1,t1=v1 f1=1\nm2,t2=v2 f2=2"),
+			},
+			want: []string{"m1,t1=v1 f1=1\n", "m2,t2=v2 f2=2"},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "canceling returns no lines",
+			args: args{
+				cancel: true,
+				r:      strings.NewReader("m1,t1=v1 f1=1"),
+			},
+			want:   nil,
+			expErr: context.Canceled,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "error from reader returns error",
+			args: args{
+				r: &errorReader{},
+			},
+			want:   nil,
+			expErr: fmt.Errorf("error"),
+		},
+		{
+			name: "error when input exceeds max line length",
+			args: args{
+				r:   strings.NewReader("m1,t1=v1 f1=1"),
+				max: 5,
+			},
+			want:   nil,
+			expErr: ErrLineTooLong,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "lines greater than MaxScanTokenSize are allowed",
+			args: args{
+				r:   strings.NewReader(strings.Repeat("a", bufio.MaxScanTokenSize+1)),
+				max: bufio.MaxScanTokenSize + 2,
+			},
+			want: []string{strings.Repeat("a", bufio.MaxScanTokenSize+1)},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "lines greater than MaxScanTokenSize by default are not allowed",
+			args: args{
+				r: strings.NewReader(strings.Repeat("a", bufio.MaxScanTokenSize+1)),
+			},
+			want:   nil,
+			expErr: ErrLineTooLong,
+		},
+	}
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			ctx := context.Background()
+			var cancel context.CancelFunc
+			if tt.args.cancel {
+				ctx, cancel = context.WithCancel(ctx)
+				cancel()
+			}
+
+			b := &BufferBatcher{MaxLineLength: tt.args.max}
+			var got []string
+
+			lines := make(chan []byte)
+			errC := make(chan error, 1)
+
+			go b.read(ctx, tt.args.r, lines, errC)
+
+			if cancel == nil {
+				for line := range lines {
+					got = append(got, string(line))
+				}
+			}
+
+			err := <-errC
+			assert.Equal(t, err, tt.expErr)
+			assert.Equal(t, got, tt.want)
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestBatcher_write(t *testing.T) {
+	type fields struct {
+		MaxFlushBytes    int
+		MaxFlushInterval time.Duration
+	}
+	type args struct {
+		cancel     bool
+		writeError bool
+		line       string
+		lines      chan []byte
+		errC       chan error
+	}
+	tests := []struct {
+		name       string
+		fields     fields
+		args       args
+		want       string
+		wantErr    bool
+		wantNoCall bool
+	}{
+		{
+			name: "sending a single line will send a line to the service",
+			fields: fields{
+				MaxFlushBytes: 1,
+			},
+			args: args{
+				line:   "m1,t1=v1 f1=1",
+				lines:  make(chan []byte),
+				errC:   make(chan error),
+			},
+			want: "m1,t1=v1 f1=1",
+		},
+		{
+			name: "sending a single line and waiting for a timeout will send a line to the service",
+			fields: fields{
+				MaxFlushInterval: time.Millisecond,
+			},
+			args: args{
+				line:   "m1,t1=v1 f1=1",
+				lines:  make(chan []byte),
+				errC:   make(chan error),
+			},
+			want: "m1,t1=v1 f1=1",
+		},
+		{
+			name: "batcher service returning error stops the batcher after timeout",
+			fields: fields{
+				MaxFlushInterval: time.Millisecond,
+			},
+			args: args{
+				writeError: true,
+				line:       "m1,t1=v1 f1=1",
+				lines:      make(chan []byte),
+				errC:       make(chan error),
+			},
+			wantErr: true,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "canceling will batcher no data to service",
+			fields: fields{
+				MaxFlushBytes: 1,
+			},
+			args: args{
+				cancel: true,
+				line:   "m1,t1=v1 f1=1",
+				lines:  make(chan []byte, 1),
+				errC:   make(chan error, 1),
+			},
+			wantErr:    true,
+			wantNoCall: true,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "batcher service returning error stops the batcher",
+			fields: fields{
+				MaxFlushBytes: 1,
+			},
+			args: args{
+				writeError: true,
+				line:       "m1,t1=v1 f1=1",
+				lines:      make(chan []byte),
+				errC:       make(chan error),
+			},
+			wantErr: true,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "blank line is not sent to service",
+			fields: fields{
+				MaxFlushBytes: 1,
+			},
+			args: args{
+				line:   "\n",
+				lines:  make(chan []byte),
+				errC:   make(chan error),
+			},
+			wantNoCall: true,
+		},
+	}
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			ctx := context.Background()
+			var cancel context.CancelFunc
+			if tt.args.cancel {
+				ctx, cancel = context.WithCancel(ctx)
+			}
+
+			// mocking the batcher service here to either return an error
+			// or get back all the bytes from the reader.
+			writeCalled := false
+			b := &BufferBatcher{
+				MaxFlushBytes:    tt.fields.MaxFlushBytes,
+				MaxFlushInterval: tt.fields.MaxFlushInterval,
+			}
+			var got string
+			writeFn := func(batch []byte) error {
+				writeCalled = true
+				if tt.wantErr {
+					return errors.New("I broke")
+				}
+				got = string(batch)
+				return nil
+			}
+
+			go b.write(ctx, writeFn, tt.args.lines, tt.args.errC)
+
+			if cancel != nil {
+				cancel()
+				time.Sleep(500 * time.Millisecond)
+			}
+
+			tt.args.lines <- []byte(tt.args.line)
+			// if the max flush interval is not zero, we are testing to see
+			// if the data is flushed via the timer rather than forced by
+			// closing the channel.
+			if tt.fields.MaxFlushInterval != 0 {
+				time.Sleep(tt.fields.MaxFlushInterval * 100)
+			}
+			close(tt.args.lines)
+
+			err := <-tt.args.errC
+			require.Equal(t, tt.wantErr, err != nil)
+
+			require.Equal(t, tt.wantNoCall, !writeCalled)
+			require.Equal(t, tt.want, got)
+		})
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/batcher/buffer_batcher_test.go b/internal/batcher/buffer_batcher_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2758654
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/batcher/buffer_batcher_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,192 @@
+package batcher_test
+
+import (
+	"bufio"
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"io"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/influxdata/influx-cli/v2/internal/batcher"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+func TestScanLines(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name    string
+		input   string
+		want    []string
+		wantErr bool
+	}{
+		{
+			name:  "3 lines produced including their newlines",
+			input: "m1,t1=v1 f1=1\nm2,t2=v2 f2=2\nm3,t3=v3 f3=3",
+			want:  []string{"m1,t1=v1 f1=1\n", "m2,t2=v2 f2=2\n", "m3,t3=v3 f3=3"},
+		},
+		{
+			name:  "single line without newline",
+			input: "m1,t1=v1 f1=1",
+			want:  []string{"m1,t1=v1 f1=1"},
+		},
+		{
+			name:  "single line with newline",
+			input: "m1,t1=v1 f1=1\n",
+			want:  []string{"m1,t1=v1 f1=1\n"},
+		},
+		{
+			name:  "no lines",
+			input: "",
+			want:  []string{},
+		},
+	}
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			scanner := bufio.NewScanner(strings.NewReader(tt.input))
+			scanner.Split(batcher.ScanLines)
+			got := []string{}
+			for scanner.Scan() {
+				got = append(got, scanner.Text())
+			}
+			err := scanner.Err()
+
+			if (err != nil) != tt.wantErr {
+				t.Errorf("ScanLines() error = %v, wantErr %v", err, tt.wantErr)
+				return
+			}
+
+			assert.Equal(t, tt.want, got)
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+// errorReader mocks io.Reader but returns an error.
+type errorReader struct{}
+
+func (r *errorReader) Read(p []byte) (n int, err error) {
+	return 0, fmt.Errorf("error")
+}
+
+func TestBatcher_WriteTo(t *testing.T) {
+	createReader := func(data string) func() io.Reader {
+		if data == "error" {
+			return func() io.Reader {
+				return &errorReader{}
+			}
+		}
+		return func() io.Reader {
+			return strings.NewReader(data)
+		}
+	}
+
+	type fields struct {
+		MaxFlushBytes    int
+		MaxFlushInterval time.Duration
+	}
+	type args struct {
+		r          func() io.Reader
+	}
+	tests := []struct {
+		name        string
+		fields      fields
+		args        args
+		want        string
+		wantFlushes int
+		wantErr     bool
+	}{
+		{
+			name: "a line of line protocol is sent to the service",
+			fields: fields{
+				MaxFlushBytes: 1,
+			},
+			args: args{
+				r: createReader("m1,t1=v1 f1=1"),
+			},
+			want:        "m1,t1=v1 f1=1",
+			wantFlushes: 1,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "multiple lines cause multiple flushes",
+			fields: fields{
+				MaxFlushBytes: len([]byte("m1,t1=v1 f1=1\n")),
+			},
+			args: args{
+				r: createReader("m1,t1=v1 f1=1\nm2,t2=v2 f2=2\nm3,t3=v3 f3=3"),
+			},
+			want:        "m3,t3=v3 f3=3",
+			wantFlushes: 3,
+		},
+		{
+			name:   "errors during read return error",
+			fields: fields{},
+			args: args{
+				r: createReader("error"),
+			},
+			wantErr: true,
+		},
+	}
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			b := &batcher.BufferBatcher{
+				MaxFlushBytes:    tt.fields.MaxFlushBytes,
+				MaxFlushInterval: tt.fields.MaxFlushInterval,
+			}
+
+			// mocking the batcher service here to either return an error
+			// or get back all the bytes from the reader.
+			var (
+				got        string
+				gotFlushes int
+			)
+			err := b.WriteBatches(context.Background(), tt.args.r(), func(batch []byte) error {
+				got = string(batch)
+				gotFlushes++
+				return nil
+			})
+			require.Equal(t, tt.wantErr, err != nil)
+			require.Equal(t, tt.wantFlushes, gotFlushes)
+			require.Equal(t, tt.want, got)
+		})
+		// test the same data, but now with WriteBatches function
+		t.Run("WriteTo_"+tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			b := &batcher.BufferBatcher{
+				MaxFlushBytes:    tt.fields.MaxFlushBytes,
+				MaxFlushInterval: tt.fields.MaxFlushInterval,
+			}
+
+			// mocking the batcher service here to either return an error
+			// or get back all the bytes from the reader.
+			var (
+				got        string
+				gotFlushes int
+			)
+			err := b.WriteBatches(context.Background(), tt.args.r(), func(batch []byte) error {
+				got = string(batch)
+				gotFlushes++
+				return nil
+			})
+			require.Equal(t, tt.wantErr, err != nil)
+			require.Equal(t, tt.wantFlushes, gotFlushes)
+			require.Equal(t, tt.want, got)
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestBatcher_WriteTimeout(t *testing.T) {
+	b := &batcher.BufferBatcher{}
+
+	// this mimics a reader like stdin that may never return data.
+	r, _ := io.Pipe()
+
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), time.Millisecond)
+	defer cancel()
+
+	var got string
+	require.Equal(t, context.DeadlineExceeded, b.WriteBatches(ctx, r, func(batch []byte) error {
+		got = string(batch)
+		return nil
+	}))
+	require.Empty(t, got, "BufferBatcher.Write() with timeout received data")
+}