You can have as many or as few as you want and have room for.

Its my belief that, if they can't be out on display and hafta be shoved into storage, then I have way too many.

My collection isn't very big atm.   I only have 14

 

"Large" is a relative idea. My collection would be seen as "small" to most, but it is generally focused and my non-collector friends are dumbfounded I have so many Transformers.

I'd guesstimate that my collection is between 50 and 100 toys. Mostly G1-esque Optimus Primes, a few Hot Rod/Rodimus Primes, a couple of Ultra Magnus', and random other figures that I bought to customize or heard were awesome. Oh, and a bunch of cheap Mini-Bots/Spy Changers/Etc. that live on my desk at work.

The shame of my collection are the toys I've left in package. Not because I want them pristine for display, but because I bought them, thinking I'd start picking up from a certain line, but then never even had enough interest to open them up. I don't do that anymore, but there was a time when I kept thinking, man, I should really get into these CHUG figures. I've probably got between five and 15 of these, and, though that isn't a HUGE number, it is still a waste for me. I'll sell them at some point, sure, but still a waste.

Your collection should be exactly as large as you want it. I know, that is an entirely generic answer, but it is true. You should look at your collection and feel good about it. You should not be guilt-ridden by waste or overwhelmed with shame. That sweet spot is different for everyone.

 

I have nearly 800 figures (possibly more than 800 I haven't counted them for awhile and I've bought quite a few since then) so yeah I'd say its quite big......

I have a problem don't I?

 

Also I agree to MoonScream. As an adult you can do whatever the hell you want and don't need to bother about what other people think of you. So it's up to personal preference how much is too much. Well and maybe the available space.   If you can hardly move trough your house, then maybe it's too much  

 

Thanks guys for your input so far. I totally get that this is a subjective question. When you strip it down, yeah, what's a correct number is really in the eye of the beholder. I think once I pick up (if is more likely) GT Devy and TFM Menasor, I'll be at 75-ish. And I'm already uncomfortable with having that number because I'm the kind of guy that appreciates the design and level of detail with TF's, and for me, it becomes harder to pay attention and appreciate that aspect when you own more and more figures. It gets mentally noisier and noisier for me. Tell me you guys don't feel the same?

I think a couple of you pointed out that if it's in storage or it can't be displayed, time to get rid of them. And that is very true. Really loses it's purpose if it's being stored. Ended up doing that with most of my CHUGs and movie figures. At this point, all I have in storage are some of the smaller MP's, Nero and Feral Rex, Ultimate Movie Prime, Planet X Dinobots, Shuraking, Leonidas, and FP Protector/Shadow Scythe. Only because I'm going to be moving again and I need to buy another Detolf to display it (I've only got one currently).

Personally, I'm not sure if I'm growing out of it, or getting wise, but I'm going to focus on particular characters rather than collections. I'm thinking mostly OP and Grimlock, MP-size combiners, and some standout MP's. characters.

 

Over 1000. Working to pare it down a bit but it's slow going.

 

Yup. When it's too crowded it's just a multicolored plastic mess.

 

This was me the last two years or so. Holy crap, I had so many unopened "collections". I had an unopened FP Intimidator, FP Colossus, UT Ordin, KFC Sencho Barbossa, MT Quantron, FP Dinobots, the list goes on. I thought I'd eventually open it but never did, and that's the killer there isn't it? It's the "get it before it's gone and goes up in price" FOMO mentality at work.

I still remember selling my unopened Generations Metroplex and how tough it was to box that one up. I had to hack my own shipping box for that one. That's probably the one killer about getting rid of your collection - the boxing phase. It can take up a lot of time, for sure.

Biggest lesson I'm learning for myself from this (and my burgeoning friendships I've made with eBay and the Post Office) is don't collect for the sake of collecting. Make sure you have a personal love for the character, and the design and function really call out to you. I had the Master Made Titan at one point because I owned Metroplex as a kid, really digged the updated SD design, then got rid of him after a couple of months because I wasn't attached to the character like I am Drift or Grimlock. I'm really interested in Master Made's Apollo, but again, I don't love the character enough that I'm probably better off not buying it.

 

Larger than yours.

And yours.

Well, maybe not yours.

 

Hundreds if not a thousand?

 

I'm about to reach 500 Transformers! My gosh that is exciting for me!

 

Let's see...

G1: 4

Masterpiece: 1

Classics/Universe/Generations: 34

RID2001: 1

Unicron Trilogy: 5

Animated: 2

Movies: 21

Prime/RID2015: 18

That's a total of... 86. Wow. Never thought I'd own that many.

EDIT: I think I'm nearing that point where I'll have all the characters I really want to own, and be able to limit myself to the occasional purchase if a figure or character really interests me. I guess the reasonable count is subjective. If you want lots and lots of figures, and have the space for them, then by all means. If you do feel the need to limit yourself, I'd say 20-30 of your favorite figures/characters is a reasonable limit.

 

I've made the decision to get rid of just about everything except for Shuraking, M-01 Commander, and some other deluxe figures. Getting rid of everything else.  

 

I have way way too many. Stupidly too many. Loads I haven't even opened yet, some still in their delivery packaging too  
I can't hope to display even a quarter of them, the loft is full, they are piled up in the bedroom, my study room, the kitchen, the lounge, damn near everywhere, and I'm still buying them. I really have a bad addiction  
That's why I come here, so I don't feel as bad, because I know that there are plenty of you on here that can put my collection to shame.

 

For a teenager, having around 500 seems to be a good number. Nearly 200 of them are junkers and missing things but what can you do.  

 

Well i would say 100 is not that much of a number if u have them on display . I have 72 and more on the way. But i mostly collect Decepticons and g1, some beast wars. I collected many lines but , decided that transformers was my fave. Sime gi joes very few all cobras except for old snakeyes. Just focus on what u like. I have a lot of the combiners and a lot of pretenders but thats what i like.. Just collect what u like man no matter the number...

 

Is "stupid big" a number?

 

I stopped counting at whatever number is over here <

Anyways, that's was well before DOTM, AOE, 3rd Party MPs, 3rd Party stuff in general. Maybe it's time for a recount, idk?

 

I think everyone is entitled to own how ever many they so desire.
The rules are only there to separate everyone from each other, there's no natural law that states, once you pass 25 or whatever, you can no longer collect transformers, figures, dolls, video games, action figures matchbox cars or whatever...

While my collection isn't a large as some here, I have a ton that I have never opened either, and probably never will.
I only like to display a few of my favorite characters, but if I had to say a number how much anyone should have ...
The equation is:

AGE x (how many) favorite character x (shelves in) cabinet [~powerof10]