diff --git a/packages/core/src/components/tag-input/tag-input.md b/packages/core/src/components/tag-input/tag-input.md
index b3a748ae635..aae86e4ceb3 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/components/tag-input/tag-input.md
+++ b/packages/core/src/components/tag-input/tag-input.md
@@ -25,7 +25,8 @@ new items. A `separator` prop is supported to allow multiple items to be added
 at once; the default splits on commas and newlines.
 
 **Tags can be removed** by clicking their <span class="@ns-icon-standard @ns-icon-cross"></span>
-buttons, or by pressing <kbd>backspace</kbd> repeatedly.
+buttons, or by pressing either <kbd>backspace</kbd> or <kbd>delete</kbd> repeatedly.
+Pressing <kbd>delete</kbd> mimics the behavior of deleting in a text editor, where trying to delete at the end of the line will do nothing.
 Arrow keys can also be used to focus on a particular tag before removing it. The
 cursor must be at the beginning of the text input for these interactions.
 
diff --git a/packages/core/src/components/tag-input/tagInput.tsx b/packages/core/src/components/tag-input/tagInput.tsx
index 84824cad93f..10f3ecd6225 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/components/tag-input/tagInput.tsx
+++ b/packages/core/src/components/tag-input/tagInput.tsx
@@ -405,6 +405,8 @@ export class TagInput extends AbstractPureComponent2<ITagInputProps, ITagInputSt
                 }
             } else if (event.which === Keys.BACKSPACE) {
                 this.handleBackspaceToRemove(event);
+            } else if (event.which === Keys.DELETE) {
+                this.handleDeleteToRemove(event);
             }
         }
 
@@ -450,6 +452,14 @@ export class TagInput extends AbstractPureComponent2<ITagInputProps, ITagInputSt
         }
     }
 
+    private handleDeleteToRemove(event: React.KeyboardEvent<HTMLInputElement>) {
+        const { activeIndex } = this.state;
+        if (this.isValidIndex(activeIndex)) {
+            event.stopPropagation();
+            this.removeIndexFromValues(activeIndex);
+        }
+    }
+
     /** Remove the item at the given index by invoking `onRemove` and `onChange` accordingly. */
     private removeIndexFromValues(index: number) {
         const { onChange, onRemove, values } = this.props;
diff --git a/packages/core/test/tag-input/tagInputTests.tsx b/packages/core/test/tag-input/tagInputTests.tsx
index d7fe8e08f0c..c452b3f9783 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/tag-input/tagInputTests.tsx
+++ b/packages/core/test/tag-input/tagInputTests.tsx
@@ -315,6 +315,33 @@ describe("<TagInput>", () => {
             assert.sameMembers(onRemove.args[0], [VALUES[1], 1]);
         });
 
+        it("pressing left arrow key navigates active item and delete removes it", () => {
+            const onRemove = sinon.spy();
+            const wrapper = mount(<TagInput onRemove={onRemove} values={VALUES} />);
+            // select and remove middle item
+            wrapper
+                .find("input")
+                .simulate("keydown", { which: Keys.ARROW_LEFT })
+                .simulate("keydown", { which: Keys.ARROW_LEFT })
+                .simulate("keydown", { which: Keys.DELETE });
+
+            // in this case we're not moving into the previous item but
+            // we rather "take the place" of the item we just removed
+            assert.equal(wrapper.state("activeIndex"), 1);
+            assert.isTrue(onRemove.calledOnce);
+            assert.sameMembers(onRemove.args[0], [VALUES[1], 1]);
+        });
+
+        it("pressing delete with no selection does nothing", () => {
+            const onRemove = sinon.spy();
+            const wrapper = mount(<TagInput onRemove={onRemove} values={VALUES} />);
+
+            wrapper.find("input").simulate("keydown", { which: Keys.DELETE });
+
+            assert.equal(wrapper.state("activeIndex"), -1);
+            assert.isTrue(onRemove.notCalled);
+        });
+
         it("pressing right arrow key in initial state does nothing", () => {
             const wrapper = mount(<TagInput values={VALUES} />);
             wrapper.find("input").simulate("keydown", { which: Keys.ARROW_RIGHT });