diff --git a/src/cdk-experimental/drag-drop/BUILD.bazel b/src/cdk-experimental/drag-drop/BUILD.bazel
index 51c0579195f1..06f1f159d56a 100644
--- a/src/cdk-experimental/drag-drop/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/src/cdk-experimental/drag-drop/BUILD.bazel
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ ng_module(
     "@rxjs",
     "//src/cdk/platform",
     "//src/cdk/overlay",
+    "//src/cdk/bidi",
   ],
   tsconfig = "//src/cdk-experimental:tsconfig-build.json",
 )
@@ -25,6 +26,7 @@ ts_library(
   deps = [
     ":drag-drop",
     "//src/cdk/testing",
+    "//src/cdk/bidi",
   ],
   tsconfig = "//src/cdk-experimental:tsconfig-build.json",
 )
diff --git a/src/cdk-experimental/drag-drop/drag.spec.ts b/src/cdk-experimental/drag-drop/drag.spec.ts
index fd136e5145d6..7174af7d9579 100644
--- a/src/cdk-experimental/drag-drop/drag.spec.ts
+++ b/src/cdk-experimental/drag-drop/drag.spec.ts
@@ -6,11 +6,13 @@ import {
   ViewChildren,
   QueryList,
   AfterViewInit,
+  Provider,
   ViewEncapsulation,
 } from '@angular/core';
 import {TestBed, ComponentFixture, fakeAsync, flush} from '@angular/core/testing';
 import {DragDropModule} from './drag-drop-module';
 import {dispatchMouseEvent, dispatchTouchEvent} from '@angular/cdk/testing';
+import {Directionality} from '@angular/cdk/bidi';
 import {CdkDrag} from './drag';
 import {CdkDragDrop} from './drag-events';
 import {moveItemInArray, transferArrayItem} from './drag-utils';
@@ -18,12 +20,15 @@ import {CdkDrop} from './drop';
 import {CdkDragHandle} from './drag-handle';
 
 const ITEM_HEIGHT = 25;
+const ITEM_WIDTH = 75;
 
 describe('CdkDrag', () => {
-  function createComponent<T>(componentType: Type<T>): ComponentFixture<T> {
+  function createComponent<T>(componentType: Type<T>, providers: Provider[] = []):
+    ComponentFixture<T> {
     TestBed.configureTestingModule({
       imports: [DragDropModule],
       declarations: [componentType],
+      providers,
     }).compileComponents();
 
     return TestBed.createComponent<T>(componentType);
@@ -173,9 +178,13 @@ describe('CdkDrag', () => {
       dispatchMouseEvent(fixture.componentInstance.dragElement.nativeElement, 'mousedown');
       fixture.detectChanges();
 
-      expect(fixture.componentInstance.startedSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(jasmine.objectContaining({
-        source: fixture.componentInstance.dragInstance
-      }));
+      expect(fixture.componentInstance.startedSpy).toHaveBeenCalled();
+
+      const event = fixture.componentInstance.startedSpy.calls.mostRecent().args[0];
+
+      // Assert the event like this, rather than `toHaveBeenCalledWith`, because Jasmine will
+      // go into an infinite loop trying to stringify the event, if the test fails.
+      expect(event).toEqual({source: fixture.componentInstance.dragInstance});
     }));
 
     it('should dispatch an event when the user has stopped dragging', fakeAsync(() => {
@@ -184,9 +193,13 @@ describe('CdkDrag', () => {
 
       dragElementViaMouse(fixture, fixture.componentInstance.dragElement.nativeElement, 5, 10);
 
-      expect(fixture.componentInstance.endedSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(jasmine.objectContaining({
-        source: fixture.componentInstance.dragInstance
-      }));
+      expect(fixture.componentInstance.endedSpy).toHaveBeenCalled();
+
+      const event = fixture.componentInstance.endedSpy.calls.mostRecent().args[0];
+
+      // Assert the event like this, rather than `toHaveBeenCalledWith`, because Jasmine will
+      // go into an infinite loop trying to stringify the event, if the test fails.
+      expect(event).toEqual({source: fixture.componentInstance.dragInstance});
     }));
   });
 
@@ -290,13 +303,52 @@ describe('CdkDrag', () => {
       fixture.detectChanges();
 
       expect(fixture.componentInstance.droppedSpy).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
-      expect(fixture.componentInstance.droppedSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(jasmine.objectContaining({
+
+      const event = fixture.componentInstance.droppedSpy.calls.mostRecent().args[0];
+
+      // Assert the event like this, rather than `toHaveBeenCalledWith`, because Jasmine will
+      // go into an infinite loop trying to stringify the event, if the test fails.
+      expect(event).toEqual({
         previousIndex: 0,
         currentIndex: 2,
         item: firstItem,
         container: fixture.componentInstance.dropInstance,
         previousContainer: fixture.componentInstance.dropInstance
-      }));
+      });
+
+      expect(dragItems.map(drag => drag.element.nativeElement.textContent!.trim()))
+          .toEqual(['One', 'Two', 'Zero', 'Three']);
+    }));
+
+    it('should dispatch the `dropped` event in a horizontal drop zone', fakeAsync(() => {
+      const fixture = createComponent(DraggableInHorizontalDropZone);
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+      const dragItems = fixture.componentInstance.dragItems;
+
+      expect(dragItems.map(drag => drag.element.nativeElement.textContent!.trim()))
+          .toEqual(['Zero', 'One', 'Two', 'Three']);
+
+      const firstItem = dragItems.first;
+      const thirdItemRect = dragItems.toArray()[2].element.nativeElement.getBoundingClientRect();
+
+      dragElementViaMouse(fixture, firstItem.element.nativeElement,
+          thirdItemRect.left + 1, thirdItemRect.top + 1);
+      flush();
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+
+      expect(fixture.componentInstance.droppedSpy).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+
+      const event = fixture.componentInstance.droppedSpy.calls.mostRecent().args[0];
+
+      // Assert the event like this, rather than `toHaveBeenCalledWith`, because Jasmine will
+      // go into an infinite loop trying to stringify the event, if the test fails.
+      expect(event).toEqual({
+        previousIndex: 0,
+        currentIndex: 2,
+        item: firstItem,
+        container: fixture.componentInstance.dropInstance,
+        previousContainer: fixture.componentInstance.dropInstance
+      });
 
       expect(dragItems.map(drag => drag.element.nativeElement.textContent!.trim()))
           .toEqual(['One', 'Two', 'Zero', 'Three']);
@@ -320,6 +372,8 @@ describe('CdkDrag', () => {
       expect(preview).toBeTruthy('Expected preview to be in the DOM');
       expect(preview.textContent!.trim())
           .toContain('One', 'Expected preview content to match element');
+      expect(preview.getAttribute('dir'))
+          .toBe('ltr', 'Expected preview element to inherit the directionality.');
       expect(previewRect.width).toBe(itemRect.width, 'Expected preview width to match element');
       expect(previewRect.height).toBe(itemRect.height, 'Expected preview height to match element');
 
@@ -333,6 +387,22 @@ describe('CdkDrag', () => {
       expect(preview.parentNode).toBeFalsy('Expected preview to be removed from the DOM');
     }));
 
+    it('should pass the proper direction to the preview in rtl', fakeAsync(() => {
+      const fixture = createComponent(DraggableInDropZone, [{
+        provide: Directionality,
+        useValue: ({value: 'rtl'})
+      }]);
+
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+
+      const item = fixture.componentInstance.dragItems.toArray()[1].element.nativeElement;
+      dispatchMouseEvent(item, 'mousedown');
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+
+      expect(document.querySelector('.cdk-drag-preview')!.getAttribute('dir'))
+          .toBe('rtl', 'Expected preview element to inherit the directionality.');
+    }));
+
     it('should create a placeholder element while the item is dragged', fakeAsync(() => {
       const fixture = createComponent(DraggableInDropZone);
       fixture.detectChanges();
@@ -391,6 +461,62 @@ describe('CdkDrag', () => {
         cleanup();
       }));
 
+    it('should move the placeholder as an item is being sorted to the right', fakeAsync(() => {
+      const fixture = createComponent(DraggableInHorizontalDropZone);
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+
+      const items = fixture.componentInstance.dragItems.toArray();
+      const draggedItem = items[0].element.nativeElement;
+      const {top, left} = draggedItem.getBoundingClientRect();
+
+      dispatchMouseEvent(draggedItem, 'mousedown', left, top);
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+
+      const placeholder = document.querySelector('.cdk-drag-placeholder')! as HTMLElement;
+
+      // Drag over each item one-by-one going to the right.
+      for (let i = 0; i < items.length; i++) {
+        const elementRect = items[i].element.nativeElement.getBoundingClientRect();
+
+        // Add a few pixels to the left offset so we get some overlap.
+        dispatchMouseEvent(document, 'mousemove', elementRect.left + 5, elementRect.top);
+        fixture.detectChanges();
+        expect(getElementIndex(placeholder)).toBe(i);
+      }
+
+      dispatchMouseEvent(document, 'mouseup');
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+      flush();
+    }));
+
+    it('should move the placeholder as an item is being sorted to the left', fakeAsync(() => {
+      const fixture = createComponent(DraggableInHorizontalDropZone);
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+
+      const items = fixture.componentInstance.dragItems.toArray();
+      const draggedItem = items[items.length - 1].element.nativeElement;
+      const {top, left} = draggedItem.getBoundingClientRect();
+
+      dispatchMouseEvent(draggedItem, 'mousedown', left, top);
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+
+      const placeholder = document.querySelector('.cdk-drag-placeholder')! as HTMLElement;
+
+      // Drag over each item one-by-one going to the left.
+      for (let i = items.length - 1; i > -1; i--) {
+        const elementRect = items[i].element.nativeElement.getBoundingClientRect();
+
+        // Remove a few pixels from the right offset so we get some overlap.
+        dispatchMouseEvent(document, 'mousemove', elementRect.right - 5, elementRect.top);
+        fixture.detectChanges();
+        expect(getElementIndex(placeholder)).toBe(Math.min(i + 1, items.length - 1));
+      }
+
+      dispatchMouseEvent(document, 'mouseup');
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+      flush();
+    }));
+
     it('should clean up the preview element if the item is destroyed mid-drag', fakeAsync(() => {
       const fixture = createComponent(DraggableInDropZone);
       fixture.detectChanges();
@@ -562,6 +688,43 @@ export class DraggableInDropZone {
 }
 
 
+@Component({
+  encapsulation: ViewEncapsulation.None,
+  styles: [
+  // Use inline blocks here to avoid flexbox issues and not to have to flip floats in rtl.
+  `
+    .cdk-drop {
+      display: block;
+      width: 300px;
+      background: pink;
+      font-size: 0;
+    }
+
+    .cdk-drag {
+      width: ${ITEM_WIDTH}px;
+      height: ${ITEM_HEIGHT}px;
+      background: red;
+      display: inline-block;
+    }
+  `],
+  template: `
+    <cdk-drop
+      orientation="horizontal"
+      [data]="items"
+      (dropped)="droppedSpy($event)">
+      <div *ngFor="let item of items" cdkDrag>{{item}}</div>
+    </cdk-drop>
+  `
+})
+export class DraggableInHorizontalDropZone {
+  @ViewChildren(CdkDrag) dragItems: QueryList<CdkDrag>;
+  @ViewChild(CdkDrop) dropInstance: CdkDrop;
+  items = ['Zero', 'One', 'Two', 'Three'];
+  droppedSpy = jasmine.createSpy('dropped spy').and.callFake((event: CdkDragDrop<string[]>) => {
+    moveItemInArray(this.items, event.previousIndex, event.currentIndex);
+  });
+}
+
 @Component({
   template: `
     <cdk-drop style="display: block; width: 100px; background: pink;">
diff --git a/src/cdk-experimental/drag-drop/drag.ts b/src/cdk-experimental/drag-drop/drag.ts
index 8bf3f06d6cd8..22c54e895098 100644
--- a/src/cdk-experimental/drag-drop/drag.ts
+++ b/src/cdk-experimental/drag-drop/drag.ts
@@ -23,8 +23,9 @@ import {
   ContentChildren,
   QueryList,
 } from '@angular/core';
-import {CdkDragHandle} from './drag-handle';
 import {DOCUMENT} from '@angular/platform-browser';
+import {Directionality} from '@angular/cdk/bidi';
+import {CdkDragHandle} from './drag-handle';
 import {CdkDropContainer, CDK_DROP_CONTAINER} from './drop-container';
 import {supportsPassiveEventListeners} from '@angular/cdk/platform';
 import {CdkDragStart, CdkDragEnd, CdkDragExit, CdkDragEnter, CdkDragDrop} from './drag-events';
@@ -126,7 +127,8 @@ export class CdkDrag implements AfterContentInit, OnDestroy {
     @Inject(DOCUMENT) document: any,
     private _ngZone: NgZone,
     private _viewContainerRef: ViewContainerRef,
-    private _viewportRuler: ViewportRuler) {
+    private _viewportRuler: ViewportRuler,
+    @Optional() private _dir: Directionality) {
       this._document = document;
     }
 
@@ -302,7 +304,7 @@ export class CdkDrag implements AfterContentInit, OnDestroy {
       });
     }
 
-    this.dropContainer._sortItem(this, y);
+    this.dropContainer._sortItem(this, x, y);
     this._setTransform(this._preview,
                        x - this._pickupPositionInElement.x,
                        y - this._pickupPositionInElement.y);
@@ -333,6 +335,8 @@ export class CdkDrag implements AfterContentInit, OnDestroy {
     }
 
     preview.classList.add('cdk-drag-preview');
+    preview.setAttribute('dir', this._dir ? this._dir.value : 'ltr');
+
     return preview;
   }
 
diff --git a/src/cdk-experimental/drag-drop/drop-container.ts b/src/cdk-experimental/drag-drop/drop-container.ts
index 39bf9f8ca9e7..ae9aaedb3ecc 100644
--- a/src/cdk-experimental/drag-drop/drop-container.ts
+++ b/src/cdk-experimental/drag-drop/drop-container.ts
@@ -14,6 +14,9 @@ export interface CdkDropContainer<T = any> {
   /** Arbitrary data to attach to all events emitted by this container. */
   data: T;
 
+  /** Direction in which the list is oriented. */
+  orientation: 'horizontal' | 'vertical';
+
   /** Starts dragging an item. */
   start(): void;
 
@@ -42,7 +45,7 @@ export interface CdkDropContainer<T = any> {
    * @param item Item whose index should be determined.
    */
   getItemIndex(item: CdkDrag): number;
-  _sortItem(item: CdkDrag, yOffset: number): void;
+  _sortItem(item: CdkDrag, xOffset: number, yOffset: number): void;
   _draggables: QueryList<CdkDrag>;
   _getSiblingContainerFromPosition(x: number, y: number): CdkDropContainer | null;
 }
diff --git a/src/cdk-experimental/drag-drop/drop.ts b/src/cdk-experimental/drag-drop/drop.ts
index b91606f498ca..9d50b832d782 100644
--- a/src/cdk-experimental/drag-drop/drop.ts
+++ b/src/cdk-experimental/drag-drop/drop.ts
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@ import {CdkDrag} from './drag';
 import {CdkDragExit, CdkDragEnter, CdkDragDrop} from './drag-events';
 import {CDK_DROP_CONTAINER} from './drop-container';
 
-
 /** Container that wraps a set of draggable items. */
 @Component({
   moduleId: module.id,
@@ -53,6 +52,9 @@ export class CdkDrop<T = any> {
   /** Arbitrary data to attach to all events emitted by this container. */
   @Input() data: T;
 
+  /** Direction in which the list is oriented. */
+  @Input() orientation: 'horizontal' | 'vertical' = 'vertical';
+
   /** Emits when the user drops an item inside the container. */
   @Output() dropped = new EventEmitter<CdkDragDrop<T, any>>();
 
@@ -132,13 +134,19 @@ export class CdkDrop<T = any> {
   /**
    * Sorts an item inside the container based on its position.
    * @param item Item to be sorted.
+   * @param xOffset Position of the item along the X axis.
    * @param yOffset Position of the item along the Y axis.
    */
-  _sortItem(item: CdkDrag, yOffset: number): void {
-    // TODO: only covers Y axis sorting.
+  _sortItem(item: CdkDrag, xOffset: number, yOffset: number): void {
     const siblings = this._positionCache.items;
     const newPosition = siblings.find(({drag, clientRect}) => {
-      return drag !== item && yOffset > clientRect.top && yOffset < clientRect.bottom;
+      if (drag === item) {
+        return false;
+      }
+
+      return this.orientation === 'horizontal' ?
+          xOffset > clientRect.left && xOffset < clientRect.right :
+          yOffset > clientRect.top && yOffset < clientRect.bottom;
     });
 
     if (!newPosition && siblings.length > 0) {
diff --git a/src/demo-app/drag-drop/drag-drop-demo.html b/src/demo-app/drag-drop/drag-drop-demo.html
index 1cf13b842bfe..1ebf05dbd83f 100644
--- a/src/demo-app/drag-drop/drag-drop-demo.html
+++ b/src/demo-app/drag-drop/drag-drop-demo.html
@@ -1,35 +1,53 @@
-<div class="list">
-  <h2>To do</h2>
-  <cdk-drop
-    #one
-    (cdkDragDropped)="drop($event)"
-    [data]="todo"
-    [connectedTo]="[two]">
-    <div *ngFor="let item of todo" cdkDrag>
-      {{item}}
-      <mat-icon cdkDragHandle svgIcon="dnd-move"></mat-icon>
-    </div>
-  </cdk-drop>
+<div>
+  <div class="list">
+    <h2>To do</h2>
+    <cdk-drop
+      #one
+      (dropped)="drop($event)"
+      [data]="todo"
+      [connectedTo]="[two]">
+      <div *ngFor="let item of todo" cdkDrag>
+        {{item}}
+        <mat-icon cdkDragHandle svgIcon="dnd-move"></mat-icon>
+      </div>
+    </cdk-drop>
+  </div>
+
+  <div class="list">
+    <h2>Done</h2>
+    <cdk-drop
+      #two
+      (dropped)="drop($event)"
+      [data]="done"
+      [connectedTo]="[one]">
+      <div *ngFor="let item of done" cdkDrag>
+        {{item}}
+        <mat-icon cdkDragHandle svgIcon="dnd-move"></mat-icon>
+      </div>
+    </cdk-drop>
+  </div>
 </div>
 
-<div class="list">
-  <h2>Done</h2>
-  <cdk-drop
-    #two
-    (cdkDragDropped)="drop($event)"
-    [data]="done"
-    [connectedTo]="[one]">
-    <div *ngFor="let item of done" cdkDrag>
-      {{item}}
-      <mat-icon cdkDragHandle svgIcon="dnd-move"></mat-icon>
-    </div>
-  </cdk-drop>
+<div>
+  <div class="list horizontal">
+    <h2>Horizontal list</h2>
+    <cdk-drop
+      orientation="horizontal"
+      (dropped)="drop($event)"
+      [data]="horizontalData">
+      <div *ngFor="let item of horizontalData" cdkDrag>
+        {{item}}
+        <mat-icon cdkDragHandle svgIcon="dnd-move"></mat-icon>
+      </div>
+    </cdk-drop>
+  </div>
 </div>
 
-<div class="list">
+<div>
   <h2>Data</h2>
   <pre>{{todo.join(', ')}}</pre>
   <pre>{{done.join(', ')}}</pre>
+  <pre>{{horizontalData.join(', ')}}</pre>
 </div>
 
 <div class="list">
diff --git a/src/demo-app/drag-drop/drag-drop-demo.scss b/src/demo-app/drag-drop/drag-drop-demo.scss
index f9aa313d0769..b30f5796fb97 100644
--- a/src/demo-app/drag-drop/drag-drop-demo.scss
+++ b/src/demo-app/drag-drop/drag-drop-demo.scss
@@ -5,12 +5,28 @@
   display: inline-block;
   margin-right: 25px;
   vertical-align: top;
+
+  [dir='rtl'] & {
+    margin-right: 0;
+    margin-left: 25px;
+  }
+
+  &.horizontal {
+    width: 1000px;
+    margin-right: 0;
+    margin-left: 0;
+  }
 }
 
 .cdk-drop {
   border: solid 1px #ccc;
   min-height: 60px;
   display: block;
+
+  .horizontal & {
+    display: flex;
+    flex-direction: row;
+  }
 }
 
 .cdk-drag {
@@ -22,12 +38,24 @@
   justify-content: space-between;
   box-sizing: border-box;
 
-  .cdk-drop &:last-child {
+  .cdk-drop-dragging & {
+    transition: transform 500ms ease;
+  }
+
+  .horizontal & {
     border: none;
+    border-right: solid 1px #ccc;
+    flex-grow: 1;
+    flex-basis: 0;
+
+    [dir='rtl'] & {
+      border-right: none;
+      border-left: solid 1px #ccc;
+    }
   }
 
-  .cdk-drop-dragging & {
-    transition: transform 500ms ease;
+  .cdk-drop &:last-child {
+    border: none;
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/demo-app/drag-drop/drag-drop-demo.ts b/src/demo-app/drag-drop/drag-drop-demo.ts
index bc2e16543fe3..b72cedcf9304 100644
--- a/src/demo-app/drag-drop/drag-drop-demo.ts
+++ b/src/demo-app/drag-drop/drag-drop-demo.ts
@@ -33,6 +33,14 @@ export class DragAndDropDemo {
     'Check reddit'
   ];
 
+  horizontalData = [
+    'Bronze age',
+    'Iron age',
+    'Middle ages',
+    'Early modern period',
+    'Long nineteenth century'
+  ];
+
   constructor(iconRegistry: MatIconRegistry, sanitizer: DomSanitizer) {
     iconRegistry.addSvgIconLiteral('dnd-move', sanitizer.bypassSecurityTrustHtml(`
       <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="24" height="24" viewBox="0 0 24 24">