How to Group Objects into a Collection in Blender

Grouping objects in Blender is essential for keeping your 3D scene organized, manageable, and easy to navigate. Since Blender 2.8, the traditional "group" feature was replaced by Collections, which allow you to organize models, lights, and cameras into logical folders. This article provides a quick, step-by-step guide on how to group objects into collections using simple keyboard shortcuts and the Outliner panel.

Method 1: Using the "Move to Collection" Shortcut (Fastest)

  1. Select the Objects: In the 3D Viewport, hold Shift and click on all the objects you want to group together.
  2. Press M: Pressing the M key opens the Move to Collection menu.
  3. Create or Choose a Collection:
    • To create a new group, click + New Collection.
    • Type a name for your collection (e.g., "Furniture", "Trees") and press Enter or click OK.
    • To add objects to an existing group, simply select the target collection name from the list.

Your selected objects are now organized inside that collection.

Method 2: Using the Outliner (Drag and Drop)

  1. Locate the Outliner window, typically found in the top-right corner of the Blender interface.
  2. Right-click on empty space in the Outliner (or on the Scene Collection root) and select New Collection.
  3. Double-click the newly created collection to rename it.
  4. Select your objects in either the 3D Viewport or the Outliner, then click and drag them directly into your new collection folder in the Outliner.

Method 3: Quick Grouping (Ctrl + G)

  1. Select the objects you want to group in the 3D Viewport.
  2. Press Ctrl + G.
  3. A new collection will be automatically created in the background, containing the selected objects.
  4. A small pop-up panel will appear at the bottom-left of your screen, allowing you to immediately rename the collection.

Managing Collections

  • Toggle Visibility: Click the Eye icon next to a collection in the Outliner to hide or show all objects within that group.
  • Exclude from Render: Click the Camera icon (or the checkmark next to the collection name) to prevent the grouped objects from rendering.
  • Nested Collections: You can drag one collection inside another in the Outliner to create sub-groups for complex projects.