diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 33378f9db..3702b88ff 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -252,6 +252,7 @@
     Feature #5146: Safe Dispose corpse
     Feature #5147: Show spell magicka cost in spell buying window
     Feature #5170: Editor: Land shape editing, land selection
+    Feature #5172: Editor: Delete instances/references with keypress in scene window
     Feature #5193: Weapon sheathing
     Feature #5219: Impelement TestCells console command
     Feature #5224: Handle NiKeyframeController for NiTriShape
diff --git a/CHANGELOG_PR.md b/CHANGELOG_PR.md
index 526e09f14..f462da32c 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG_PR.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG_PR.md
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ New Editor Features:
 - "Faction Ranks" table for "Faction" records (#4209)
 - Changes to height editing can be cancelled without changes to data (press esc to cancel) (#4840)
 - Land heightmap/shape editing and vertex selection (#5170)
+- Deleting instances with a keypress (#5172)
 
 Bug Fixes:
 - The Mouse Wheel can now be used for key bindings (#2679)
diff --git a/apps/opencs/model/prefs/state.cpp b/apps/opencs/model/prefs/state.cpp
index 1bf5752f0..442e707bf 100644
--- a/apps/opencs/model/prefs/state.cpp
+++ b/apps/opencs/model/prefs/state.cpp
@@ -355,6 +355,7 @@ void CSMPrefs::State::declare()
     declareShortcut ("scene-select-secondary", "Secondary Select",
         QKeySequence(Qt::ControlModifier | (int)Qt::MiddleButton));
     declareModifier ("scene-speed-modifier", "Speed Modifier", Qt::Key_Shift);
+    declareShortcut ("scene-delete", "Delete Instance", QKeySequence(Qt::Key_Delete));
     declareShortcut ("scene-load-cam-cell", "Load Camera Cell", QKeySequence(Qt::KeypadModifier | Qt::Key_5));
     declareShortcut ("scene-load-cam-eastcell", "Load East Cell", QKeySequence(Qt::KeypadModifier | Qt::Key_6));
     declareShortcut ("scene-load-cam-northcell", "Load North Cell", QKeySequence(Qt::KeypadModifier | Qt::Key_8));
diff --git a/apps/opencs/view/render/instancemode.cpp b/apps/opencs/view/render/instancemode.cpp
index dd5dc3bac..92f5cbb2d 100644
--- a/apps/opencs/view/render/instancemode.cpp
+++ b/apps/opencs/view/render/instancemode.cpp
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 #include "../../model/world/idtree.hpp"
 #include "../../model/world/commands.hpp"
 #include "../../model/world/commandmacro.hpp"
+#include "../../model/prefs/shortcut.hpp"
 
 #include "../widget/scenetoolbar.hpp"
 #include "../widget/scenetoolmode.hpp"
@@ -96,6 +97,9 @@ CSVRender::InstanceMode::InstanceMode (WorldspaceWidget *worldspaceWidget, QWidg
 {
     connect(this, SIGNAL(requestFocus(const std::string&)),
             worldspaceWidget, SIGNAL(requestFocus(const std::string&)));
+
+    CSMPrefs::Shortcut* deleteShortcut = new CSMPrefs::Shortcut("scene-delete", worldspaceWidget);
+    connect(deleteShortcut, SIGNAL(activated(bool)), this, SLOT(deleteSelectedInstances(bool)));
 }
 
 void CSVRender::InstanceMode::activate (CSVWidget::SceneToolbar *toolbar)
@@ -659,3 +663,21 @@ void CSVRender::InstanceMode::subModeChanged (const std::string& id)
     getWorldspaceWidget().abortDrag();
     getWorldspaceWidget().setSubMode (getSubModeFromId (id), SceneUtil::Mask_EditorReference);
 }
+
+void CSVRender::InstanceMode::deleteSelectedInstances(bool active)
+{
+    std::vector<osg::ref_ptr<TagBase> > selection = getWorldspaceWidget().getSelection (SceneUtil::Mask_EditorReference);
+    if (selection.empty()) return;
+
+    CSMDoc::Document& document = getWorldspaceWidget().getDocument();
+    CSMWorld::IdTable& referencesTable = dynamic_cast<CSMWorld::IdTable&> (
+        *document.getData().getTableModel (CSMWorld::UniversalId::Type_References));
+    QUndoStack& undoStack = document.getUndoStack();
+
+    CSMWorld::CommandMacro macro (undoStack, "Delete Instances");
+    for(osg::ref_ptr<TagBase> tag: selection)
+        if (CSVRender::ObjectTag *objectTag = dynamic_cast<CSVRender::ObjectTag *> (tag.get()))
+            macro.push(new CSMWorld::DeleteCommand(referencesTable, objectTag->mObject->getReferenceId()));
+
+    getWorldspaceWidget().clearSelection (SceneUtil::Mask_EditorReference);
+}
diff --git a/apps/opencs/view/render/instancemode.hpp b/apps/opencs/view/render/instancemode.hpp
index 6ddaa254f..23df3f37d 100644
--- a/apps/opencs/view/render/instancemode.hpp
+++ b/apps/opencs/view/render/instancemode.hpp
@@ -92,6 +92,7 @@ namespace CSVRender
         private slots:
 
             void subModeChanged (const std::string& id);
+            void deleteSelectedInstances(bool active);
     };
 }