16GB vs 32GB RAM for multiple VMs: 32GB is the real minimum for serious work

16GB works for one or two lightweight Linux VMs, but hits the ceiling fast with Windows VMs, more than two guests, or real workloads like databases and compiling. 32GB gives you breathing room to assign 8GB to a couple of Windows VMs and keep 16GB for the host without swapping to disk. Future You will thank you every time a VM doesn’t freeze.