diff --git a/doc/help/commands.asciidoc b/doc/help/commands.asciidoc
index d3819741e..7d70614d3 100644
--- a/doc/help/commands.asciidoc
+++ b/doc/help/commands.asciidoc
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 |<<download-open,download-open>>|Open the last/[count]th download.
 |<<download-remove,download-remove>>|Remove the last/[count]th download from the list.
 |<<download-retry,download-retry>>|Retry the first failed/[count]th download.
+|<<edit-url,edit-url>>|Compose a url in an external editor and navigate to it.
 |<<fake-key,fake-key>>|Send a fake keypress or key string to the website or qutebrowser.
 |<<forward,forward>>|Go forward in the history of the current tab.
 |<<fullscreen,fullscreen>>|Toggle fullscreen mode.
@@ -223,6 +224,21 @@ Retry the first failed/[count]th download.
 ==== count
 The index of the download to retry.
 
+[[edit-url]]
+=== edit-url
+Syntax: +:edit-url [*--bg*] [*--tab*] [*--window*] ['url']+
+
+Open a URL in an external editor and navigate to it upon closing the editor.
+
+==== optional arguments
+* +'url'+: A URL to pre-populate the editor with; defaults to the current URL.
+* +*-b*+, +*--bg*+: Open in a new background tab.
+* +*-t*+, +*--tab*+: Open in a new tab.
+* +*-w*+, +*--window*+: Open in a new window.
+
+==== count
+The tab index to open the URL in.
+
 [[fake-key]]
 === fake-key
 Syntax: +:fake-key [*--global*] 'keystring'+
diff --git a/qutebrowser/browser/commands.py b/qutebrowser/browser/commands.py
index 3cae6941c..e65676bb3 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/browser/commands.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/browser/commands.py
@@ -1847,3 +1847,26 @@ class CommandDispatcher:
         """Clear remembered SSL error answers."""
         nam = self._current_widget().page().networkAccessManager()
         nam.clear_all_ssl_errors()
+
+    @cmdutils.register(instance='command-dispatcher', scope='window')
+    def edit_url(self, url=None, bg=False, tab=False, window=False, count=None):
+        """Navigate to a url formed in an external editor.
+
+        The editor which should be launched can be configured via the
+        `general -> editor` config option.
+
+        Args:
+            url: URL to edit; defaults to the current page url.
+            bg: Open in a new background tab.
+            tab: Open in a new tab.
+            window: Open in a new window.
+            count: The tab index to open the URL in, or None.
+        """
+        ed = editor.ExternalEditor(self._win_id, self._tabbed_browser)
+
+        # Passthrough for openurl args (e.g. -t, -b, -w)
+        ed.editing_finished.connect(
+            functools.partial(self.openurl,
+            bg=bg, tab=tab, window=window, count=count))
+
+        ed.edit(url or self._current_url().toString())