diff --git a/apps/essimporter/convertplayer.cpp b/apps/essimporter/convertplayer.cpp
index 855a473e08..f4238a135b 100644
--- a/apps/essimporter/convertplayer.cpp
+++ b/apps/essimporter/convertplayer.cpp
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 #include <cmath>
 
+#include <components/esm3/loadcell.hpp>
 #include <components/misc/constants.hpp>
 #include <components/misc/strings/lower.hpp>
 
@@ -60,20 +61,19 @@ namespace ESSImport
 
             const PCDT::PNAM::MarkLocation& mark = pcdt.mPNAM.mMarkLocation;
 
-            ESM::CellId cell;
-            cell.mPaged = true;
-
-            cell.mIndex.mX = mark.mCellX;
-            cell.mIndex.mY = mark.mCellY;
+            ESM::RefId cell;
 
             // TODO: Figure out a better way to detect interiors. (0, 0) is a valid exterior cell.
             if (mark.mCellX == 0 && mark.mCellY == 0)
             {
-                cell.mWorldspace = pcdt.mMNAM;
-                cell.mPaged = false;
+                cell = ESM::RefId::stringRefId(pcdt.mMNAM);
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                cell = ESM::Cell::generateIdForExteriorCell(mark.mCellX, mark.mCellY);
             }
 
-            out.mMarkedCell = cell.getCellRefId();
+            out.mMarkedCell = cell;
             out.mMarkedPosition.pos[0] = mark.mX;
             out.mMarkedPosition.pos[1] = mark.mY;
             out.mMarkedPosition.pos[2] = mark.mZ;
diff --git a/apps/essimporter/importer.cpp b/apps/essimporter/importer.cpp
index 38ebf41596..76548d16ee 100644
--- a/apps/essimporter/importer.cpp
+++ b/apps/essimporter/importer.cpp
@@ -419,8 +419,13 @@ namespace ESSImport
                 = static_cast<int>(std::floor(context.mPlayer.mObject.mPosition.pos[1] / Constants::CellSizeInUnits));
             cellId.mIndex.mX = cellX;
             cellId.mIndex.mY = cellY;
+
+            context.mPlayer.mCellId = ESM::Cell::generateIdForExteriorCell(cellX, cellY);
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            context.mPlayer.mCellId = ESM::RefId::stringRefId(cellId.mWorldspace);
         }
-        context.mPlayer.mCellId = cellId.getCellRefId();
         context.mPlayer.save(writer);
         writer.endRecord(ESM::REC_PLAY);
 
diff --git a/apps/essimporter/importercontext.hpp b/apps/essimporter/importercontext.hpp
index 9e5d9c0006..788946b762 100644
--- a/apps/essimporter/importercontext.hpp
+++ b/apps/essimporter/importercontext.hpp
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 #include <components/esm3/controlsstate.hpp>
 #include <components/esm3/dialoguestate.hpp>
 #include <components/esm3/globalmap.hpp>
+#include <components/esm3/loadcell.hpp>
 #include <components/esm3/loadcrea.hpp>
 #include <components/esm3/loadnpc.hpp>
 #include <components/esm3/player.hpp>
@@ -59,10 +60,7 @@ namespace ESSImport
             , mHour(0.f)
             , mNextActorId(0)
         {
-            ESM::CellId playerCellId;
-            playerCellId.mPaged = true;
-            playerCellId.mIndex.mX = playerCellId.mIndex.mY = 0;
-            mPlayer.mCellId = playerCellId.getCellRefId();
+            mPlayer.mCellId = ESM::Cell::generateIdForExteriorCell(0, 0);
             mPlayer.mLastKnownExteriorPosition[0] = mPlayer.mLastKnownExteriorPosition[1]
                 = mPlayer.mLastKnownExteriorPosition[2] = 0.0f;
             mPlayer.mHasMark = 0;
diff --git a/apps/navmeshtool/worldspacedata.cpp b/apps/navmeshtool/worldspacedata.cpp
index fd66a46f4c..3de8d2395f 100644
--- a/apps/navmeshtool/worldspacedata.cpp
+++ b/apps/navmeshtool/worldspacedata.cpp
@@ -264,7 +264,7 @@ namespace NavMeshTool
             const osg::Vec2i cellPosition(cell.mData.mX, cell.mData.mY);
             const std::size_t cellObjectsBegin = data.mObjects.size();
             const auto cellNameLowerCase
-                = Misc::StringUtils::lowerCase(cell.isExterior() ? ESM::CellId::sDefaultWorldspace : cell.mName);
+                = Misc::StringUtils::lowerCase(cell.isExterior() ? ESM::Cell::sDefaultWorldspace : cell.mName);
             WorldspaceNavMeshInput& navMeshInput = [&]() -> WorldspaceNavMeshInput& {
                 auto it = navMeshInputs.find(cellNameLowerCase);
                 if (it == navMeshInputs.end())
diff --git a/apps/opencs/model/world/idtable.cpp b/apps/opencs/model/world/idtable.cpp
index 4ec9c301f1..23e772afcd 100644
--- a/apps/opencs/model/world/idtable.cpp
+++ b/apps/opencs/model/world/idtable.cpp
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 #include <apps/opencs/model/world/record.hpp>
 #include <apps/opencs/model/world/universalid.hpp>
 
-#include <components/esm3/cellid.hpp>
+#include <components/esm3/loadcell.hpp>
 #include <components/misc/strings/lower.hpp>
 
 #include "collectionbase.hpp"
@@ -337,7 +337,7 @@ std::pair<CSMWorld::UniversalId, std::string> CSMWorld::IdTable::view(int row) c
         return std::make_pair(UniversalId::Type_None, "");
 
     if (id[0] == '#')
-        id = ESM::CellId::sDefaultWorldspace;
+        id = ESM::Cell::sDefaultWorldspace;
 
     return std::make_pair(UniversalId(UniversalId::Type_Scene, id), hint);
 }
diff --git a/apps/opencs/view/world/regionmap.cpp b/apps/opencs/view/world/regionmap.cpp
index df5418ba76..4f4a2c6a2b 100644
--- a/apps/opencs/view/world/regionmap.cpp
+++ b/apps/opencs/view/world/regionmap.cpp
@@ -307,7 +307,7 @@ void CSVWorld::RegionMap::view()
     }
 
     emit editRequest(
-        CSMWorld::UniversalId(CSMWorld::UniversalId::Type_Scene, ESM::CellId::sDefaultWorldspace), hint.str());
+        CSMWorld::UniversalId(CSMWorld::UniversalId::Type_Scene, ESM::Cell::sDefaultWorldspace), hint.str());
 }
 
 void CSVWorld::RegionMap::viewInTable()
diff --git a/apps/opencs/view/world/scenesubview.cpp b/apps/opencs/view/world/scenesubview.cpp
index ed2820c542..26127bb961 100644
--- a/apps/opencs/view/world/scenesubview.cpp
+++ b/apps/opencs/view/world/scenesubview.cpp
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ CSVWorld::SceneSubView::SceneSubView(const CSMWorld::UniversalId& id, CSMDoc::Do
     CSVRender::WorldspaceWidget* worldspaceWidget = nullptr;
     widgetType whatWidget;
 
-    if (Misc::StringUtils::ciEqual(id.getId(), ESM::CellId::sDefaultWorldspace))
+    if (Misc::StringUtils::ciEqual(id.getId(), ESM::Cell::sDefaultWorldspace))
     {
         whatWidget = widget_Paged;
 
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ void CSVWorld::SceneSubView::cellSelectionChanged(const CSMWorld::UniversalId& i
 
 void CSVWorld::SceneSubView::cellSelectionChanged(const CSMWorld::CellSelection& selection)
 {
-    setUniversalId(CSMWorld::UniversalId(CSMWorld::UniversalId::Type_Scene, ESM::CellId::sDefaultWorldspace));
+    setUniversalId(CSMWorld::UniversalId(CSMWorld::UniversalId::Type_Scene, ESM::Cell::sDefaultWorldspace));
     int size = selection.getSize();
 
     std::ostringstream stream;
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwgui/mapwindow.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwgui/mapwindow.cpp
index 733a564db5..1118fce014 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwgui/mapwindow.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwgui/mapwindow.cpp
@@ -351,12 +351,17 @@ namespace MWGui
         {
             for (int dY = -mCellDistance; dY <= mCellDistance; ++dY)
             {
-                ESM::CellId cellId;
-                cellId.mPaged = !mInterior;
-                cellId.mWorldspace = (mInterior ? mPrefix : ESM::CellId::sDefaultWorldspace);
-                cellId.mIndex.mX = mCurX + dX;
-                cellId.mIndex.mY = mCurY + dY;
-                ESM::RefId cellRefId = cellId.getCellRefId();
+                ESM::RefId cellRefId;
+
+                if (mInterior)
+                {
+                    cellRefId = ESM::RefId::stringRefId(mPrefix);
+                }
+                else
+                {
+                    cellRefId = ESM::Cell::generateIdForExteriorCell(mCurX + dX, mCurY + dY);
+                }
+
                 CustomMarkerCollection::RangeType markers = mCustomMarkers.getMarkers(cellRefId);
                 for (CustomMarkerCollection::ContainerType::const_iterator it = markers.first; it != markers.second;
                      ++it)
@@ -885,18 +890,17 @@ namespace MWGui
 
         mEditingMarker.mWorldX = worldPos.x();
         mEditingMarker.mWorldY = worldPos.y();
-        ESM::CellId clickedId;
+        ESM::RefId clickedId;
 
-        clickedId.mPaged = !mInterior;
         if (mInterior)
-            clickedId.mWorldspace = LocalMapBase::mPrefix;
+        {
+            clickedId = ESM::RefId::stringRefId(LocalMapBase::mPrefix);
+        }
         else
         {
-            clickedId.mWorldspace = ESM::CellId::sDefaultWorldspace;
-            clickedId.mIndex.mX = x;
-            clickedId.mIndex.mY = y;
+            clickedId = ESM::Cell::generateIdForExteriorCell(x, y);
         }
-        mEditingMarker.mCell = clickedId.getCellRefId();
+        mEditingMarker.mCell = clickedId;
 
         mEditNoteDialog.setVisible(true);
         mEditNoteDialog.showDeleteButton(false);
@@ -1122,12 +1126,7 @@ namespace MWGui
 
     void MapWindow::setGlobalMapMarkerTooltip(MyGUI::Widget* markerWidget, int x, int y)
     {
-        ESM::CellId cellId;
-        cellId.mIndex.mX = x;
-        cellId.mIndex.mY = y;
-        cellId.mWorldspace = ESM::CellId::sDefaultWorldspace;
-        cellId.mPaged = true;
-        ESM::RefId cellRefId = cellId.getCellRefId();
+        ESM::RefId cellRefId = ESM::Cell::generateIdForExteriorCell(x, y);
         CustomMarkerCollection::RangeType markers = mCustomMarkers.getMarkers(cellRefId);
         std::vector<std::string> destNotes;
         for (CustomMarkerCollection::ContainerType::const_iterator it = markers.first; it != markers.second; ++it)
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwgui/travelwindow.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwgui/travelwindow.cpp
index 7798bf7105..1a70954194 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwgui/travelwindow.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwgui/travelwindow.cpp
@@ -195,15 +195,19 @@ namespace MWGui
         MWBase::Environment::get().getWindowManager()->exitCurrentGuiMode();
 
         MWBase::Environment::get().getWindowManager()->fadeScreenOut(1);
-        ESM::CellId cellId;
+        ESM::RefId cellId;
         osg::Vec2i posCell = MWWorld::positionToCellIndex(pos.pos[0], pos.pos[1]);
-        cellId.mPaged = !interior;
-        cellId.mWorldspace = Misc::StringUtils::lowerCase(cellname);
-        cellId.mIndex.mX = posCell.x();
-        cellId.mIndex.mY = posCell.y();
+        if (interior)
+        {
+            cellId = ESM::RefId::stringRefId(cellname);
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            cellId = ESM::Cell::generateIdForExteriorCell(posCell.x(), posCell.y());
+        }
 
         // Teleports any followers, too.
-        MWWorld::ActionTeleport action(cellId.getCellRefId(), pos, true);
+        MWWorld::ActionTeleport action(cellId, pos, true);
         action.execute(player);
 
         MWBase::Environment::get().getWindowManager()->fadeScreenOut(0);
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/cell.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/cell.cpp
index 7680090410..6aecbb827a 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/cell.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/cell.cpp
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ namespace MWWorld
         , mNameID(cell.mName)
         , mRegion(cell.mRegion)
         , mId(cell.mId)
-        , mParent(ESM::RefId::stringRefId(ESM::CellId::sDefaultWorldspace))
+        , mParent(ESM::RefId::stringRefId(ESM::Cell::sDefaultWorldspace))
         , mMood{
             .mAmbiantColor = cell.mAmbi.mAmbient,
             .mDirectionalColor = cell.mAmbi.mSunlight,
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/cellref.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/cellref.cpp
index 49d21f4b0e..cdfc211124 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/cellref.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/cellref.cpp
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 #include <cassert>
 
 #include <components/debug/debuglog.hpp>
-#include <components/esm3/cellid.hpp>
+#include <components/esm3/loadcell.hpp>
 #include <components/esm3/objectstate.hpp>
 
 #include <apps/openmw/mwworld/cellutils.hpp>
@@ -90,11 +90,7 @@ namespace MWWorld
             else
             {
                 const osg::Vec2i index = positionToCellIndex(ref.mDoorDest.pos[0], ref.mDoorDest.pos[1]);
-                ESM::CellId cellId;
-                cellId.mPaged = true;
-                cellId.mIndex.mX = index.x();
-                cellId.mIndex.mY = index.y();
-                return cellId.getCellRefId();
+                return ESM::Cell::generateIdForExteriorCell(index.x(), index.y());
             }
         };
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.cpp
index 7515404037..163cf624f9 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.cpp
@@ -380,10 +380,8 @@ namespace MWWorld
                 pos.rot[2] = 0;
 
                 osg::Vec2i exteriorCellPos = positionToCellIndex(pos.pos[0], pos.pos[1]);
-                ESM::CellId cellId;
-                cellId.mPaged = true;
-                cellId.mIndex = { exteriorCellPos.x(), exteriorCellPos.y() };
-                mWorldScene->changeToExteriorCell(cellId.getCellRefId(), pos, true);
+                ESM::RefId cellId = ESM::Cell::generateIdForExteriorCell(exteriorCellPos.x(), exteriorCellPos.y());
+                mWorldScene->changeToExteriorCell(cellId, pos, true);
             }
         }
 
@@ -979,7 +977,7 @@ namespace MWWorld
         mPhysics->clearQueuedMovement();
         mDiscardMovements = true;
 
-        if (changeEvent && mCurrentWorldSpace != ESM::CellId::sDefaultWorldspace)
+        if (changeEvent && mCurrentWorldSpace != ESM::Cell::sDefaultWorldspace)
         {
             // changed worldspace
             mProjectileManager->clear();
@@ -987,10 +985,8 @@ namespace MWWorld
         }
         removeContainerScripts(getPlayerPtr());
         osg::Vec2i exteriorCellPos = positionToCellIndex(position.pos[0], position.pos[1]);
-        ESM::CellId cellId;
-        cellId.mPaged = true;
-        cellId.mIndex = { exteriorCellPos.x(), exteriorCellPos.y() };
-        mWorldScene->changeToExteriorCell(cellId.getCellRefId(), position, adjustPlayerPos, changeEvent);
+        ESM::RefId cellId = ESM::Cell::generateIdForExteriorCell(exteriorCellPos.x(), exteriorCellPos.y());
+        mWorldScene->changeToExteriorCell(cellId, position, adjustPlayerPos, changeEvent);
         addContainerScripts(getPlayerPtr(), getPlayerPtr().getCell());
         mRendering->getCamera()->instantTransition();
     }
diff --git a/apps/openmw_test_suite/mwworld/test_store.cpp b/apps/openmw_test_suite/mwworld/test_store.cpp
index 36999e633c..1b89e79f54 100644
--- a/apps/openmw_test_suite/mwworld/test_store.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw_test_suite/mwworld/test_store.cpp
@@ -448,10 +448,7 @@ namespace
             refId = RecordType::indexToRefId(index);
         else if constexpr (std::is_same_v<RecordType, ESM::Cell>)
         {
-            ESM::CellId cellId;
-            cellId.mPaged = true;
-            cellId.mIndex = { 0, 0 };
-            refId = cellId.getCellRefId();
+            refId = ESM::Cell::generateIdForExteriorCell(0, 0);
         }
         else
             refId = ESM::StringRefId(stringId);
diff --git a/components/esm3/cellid.cpp b/components/esm3/cellid.cpp
index c295084a91..25dd7bfc55 100644
--- a/components/esm3/cellid.cpp
+++ b/components/esm3/cellid.cpp
@@ -7,8 +7,6 @@
 namespace ESM
 {
 
-    const std::string CellId::sDefaultWorldspace = "sys::default";
-
     void CellId::load(ESMReader& esm)
     {
         mWorldspace = esm.getHNString("SPAC");
@@ -34,18 +32,6 @@ namespace ESM
             esm.writeHNT("CIDX", mIndex, 8);
     }
 
-    ESM::RefId CellId::getCellRefId() const
-    {
-        if (mPaged)
-        {
-            return ESM::RefId::stringRefId("#" + std::to_string(mIndex.mX) + "," + std::to_string(mIndex.mY));
-        }
-        else
-        {
-            return ESM::RefId::stringRefId(mWorldspace);
-        }
-    }
-
     CellId CellId::extractFromRefId(const ESM::RefId& id)
     {
         // This is bad and that code should not be merged.
diff --git a/components/esm3/cellid.hpp b/components/esm3/cellid.hpp
index 0b27425e35..eeedc5f554 100644
--- a/components/esm3/cellid.hpp
+++ b/components/esm3/cellid.hpp
@@ -21,11 +21,8 @@ namespace ESM
         CellIndex mIndex;
         bool mPaged;
 
-        static const std::string sDefaultWorldspace;
-
         void load(ESMReader& esm);
         void save(ESMWriter& esm) const;
-        ESM::RefId getCellRefId() const;
 
         // TODO tetramir: this probably shouldn't exist, needs it because some CellIds are saved on disk
         static CellId extractFromRefId(const ESM::RefId& id);
diff --git a/components/esm3/esmreader.cpp b/components/esm3/esmreader.cpp
index 2cb5322059..2797ee83e4 100644
--- a/components/esm3/esmreader.cpp
+++ b/components/esm3/esmreader.cpp
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 #include "savedgame.hpp"
 
 #include <components/esm3/cellid.hpp>
+#include <components/esm3/loadcell.hpp>
 #include <components/files/conversion.hpp>
 #include <components/files/openfile.hpp>
 #include <components/misc/strings/algorithm.hpp>
@@ -93,7 +94,14 @@ namespace ESM
         {
             ESM::CellId cellId;
             cellId.load(*this);
-            return cellId.getCellRefId();
+            if (cellId.mPaged)
+            {
+                return ESM::Cell::generateIdForExteriorCell(cellId.mIndex.mX, cellId.mIndex.mY);
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                return ESM::RefId::stringRefId(cellId.mWorldspace);
+            }
         }
         return getHNRefId("NAME");
     }
diff --git a/components/esm3/loadcell.cpp b/components/esm3/loadcell.cpp
index 6db783d5c6..0f18e80a9d 100644
--- a/components/esm3/loadcell.cpp
+++ b/components/esm3/loadcell.cpp
@@ -40,6 +40,8 @@ namespace ESM
 
 namespace ESM
 {
+    const std::string Cell::sDefaultWorldspace = "sys::default";
+
     // Some overloaded compare operators.
     bool operator==(const MovedCellRef& ref, const RefNum& refNum)
     {
@@ -59,26 +61,23 @@ namespace ESM
 
     const ESM::RefId& Cell::updateId()
     {
-        CellId cellid;
-
-        cellid.mPaged = !(mData.mFlags & Interior);
 
-        if (cellid.mPaged)
+        if (mData.mFlags & Interior)
         {
-            cellid.mWorldspace = CellId::sDefaultWorldspace;
-            cellid.mIndex.mX = mData.mX;
-            cellid.mIndex.mY = mData.mY;
+            mId = ESM::RefId::stringRefId(mName);
         }
         else
         {
-            cellid.mWorldspace = Misc::StringUtils::lowerCase(mName);
-            cellid.mIndex.mX = 0;
-            cellid.mIndex.mY = 0;
+            mId = generateIdForExteriorCell(getGridX(), getGridY());
         }
-        mId = cellid.getCellRefId();
         return mId;
     }
 
+    ESM::RefId Cell::generateIdForExteriorCell(int x, int y)
+    {
+        return ESM::RefId::stringRefId("#" + std::to_string(x) + "," + std::to_string(y));
+    }
+
     void Cell::loadNameAndData(ESMReader& esm, bool& isDeleted)
     {
         isDeleted = false;
diff --git a/components/esm3/loadcell.hpp b/components/esm3/loadcell.hpp
index d59186b6f0..f35077b509 100644
--- a/components/esm3/loadcell.hpp
+++ b/components/esm3/loadcell.hpp
@@ -67,6 +67,8 @@ namespace ESM
      */
     struct Cell
     {
+        static const std::string sDefaultWorldspace;
+
         constexpr static RecNameInts sRecordId = REC_CELL;
 
         /// Return a string descriptor for this record type. Currently used for debugging / error logs only.
@@ -191,6 +193,8 @@ namespace ESM
         ///< Set record to default state (does not touch the ID/index).
 
         const ESM::RefId& updateId();
+
+        static ESM::RefId generateIdForExteriorCell(int x, int y);
     };
 }
 #endif