diff --git a/src/lib/datepicker/calendar.spec.ts b/src/lib/datepicker/calendar.spec.ts
index c4fb499e5505..7dd4829d333a 100644
--- a/src/lib/datepicker/calendar.spec.ts
+++ b/src/lib/datepicker/calendar.spec.ts
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ import {
   SEP,
 } from '@angular/material/core';
 import {By} from '@angular/platform-browser';
+import {Direction, Directionality} from '@angular/cdk/bidi';
 import {MatButtonModule} from '../button/index';
 import {MatCalendar} from './calendar';
 import {MatCalendarBody} from './calendar-body';
@@ -36,6 +37,8 @@ import {MatYearView} from './year-view';
 
 
 describe('MatCalendar', () => {
+  let dir: {value: Direction};
+
   beforeEach(async(() => {
     TestBed.configureTestingModule({
       imports: [
@@ -55,6 +58,7 @@ describe('MatCalendar', () => {
       ],
       providers: [
         MatDatepickerIntl,
+        {provide: Directionality, useFactory: () => dir = {value: 'ltr'}}
       ],
     });
 
@@ -204,6 +208,20 @@ describe('MatCalendar', () => {
             expect(calendarInstance._activeDate).toEqual(new Date(2016, DEC, 31));
           });
 
+          it('should increment date on left arrow press in rtl', () => {
+            dir.value = 'rtl';
+
+            dispatchKeyboardEvent(calendarBodyEl, 'keydown', LEFT_ARROW);
+            fixture.detectChanges();
+
+            expect(calendarInstance._activeDate).toEqual(new Date(2017, FEB, 1));
+
+            dispatchKeyboardEvent(calendarBodyEl, 'keydown', LEFT_ARROW);
+            fixture.detectChanges();
+
+            expect(calendarInstance._activeDate).toEqual(new Date(2017, FEB, 2));
+          });
+
           it('should increment date on right arrow press', () => {
             dispatchKeyboardEvent(calendarBodyEl, 'keydown', RIGHT_ARROW);
             fixture.detectChanges();
@@ -216,6 +234,23 @@ describe('MatCalendar', () => {
             expect(calendarInstance._activeDate).toEqual(new Date(2017, FEB, 2));
           });
 
+          it('should decrement date on right arrow press in rtl', () => {
+            dir.value = 'rtl';
+
+            dispatchKeyboardEvent(calendarBodyEl, 'keydown', RIGHT_ARROW);
+            fixture.detectChanges();
+
+            expect(calendarInstance._activeDate).toEqual(new Date(2017, JAN, 30));
+
+            calendarInstance._activeDate = new Date(2017, JAN, 1);
+            fixture.detectChanges();
+
+            dispatchKeyboardEvent(calendarBodyEl, 'keydown', RIGHT_ARROW);
+            fixture.detectChanges();
+
+            expect(calendarInstance._activeDate).toEqual(new Date(2016, DEC, 31));
+          });
+
           it('should go up a row on up arrow press', () => {
             dispatchKeyboardEvent(calendarBodyEl, 'keydown', UP_ARROW);
             fixture.detectChanges();
@@ -326,6 +361,20 @@ describe('MatCalendar', () => {
             expect(calendarInstance._activeDate).toEqual(new Date(2016, NOV, 30));
           });
 
+          it('should increment month on left arrow press in rtl', () => {
+            dir.value = 'rtl';
+
+            dispatchKeyboardEvent(calendarBodyEl, 'keydown', LEFT_ARROW);
+            fixture.detectChanges();
+
+            expect(calendarInstance._activeDate).toEqual(new Date(2017, FEB, 28));
+
+            dispatchKeyboardEvent(calendarBodyEl, 'keydown', LEFT_ARROW);
+            fixture.detectChanges();
+
+            expect(calendarInstance._activeDate).toEqual(new Date(2017, MAR, 28));
+          });
+
           it('should increment month on right arrow press', () => {
             dispatchKeyboardEvent(calendarBodyEl, 'keydown', RIGHT_ARROW);
             fixture.detectChanges();
@@ -338,6 +387,20 @@ describe('MatCalendar', () => {
             expect(calendarInstance._activeDate).toEqual(new Date(2017, MAR, 28));
           });
 
+          it('should decrement month on right arrow press in rtl', () => {
+            dir.value = 'rtl';
+
+            dispatchKeyboardEvent(calendarBodyEl, 'keydown', RIGHT_ARROW);
+            fixture.detectChanges();
+
+            expect(calendarInstance._activeDate).toEqual(new Date(2016, DEC, 31));
+
+            dispatchKeyboardEvent(calendarBodyEl, 'keydown', RIGHT_ARROW);
+            fixture.detectChanges();
+
+            expect(calendarInstance._activeDate).toEqual(new Date(2016, NOV, 30));
+          });
+
           it('should go up a row on up arrow press', () => {
             dispatchKeyboardEvent(calendarBodyEl, 'keydown', UP_ARROW);
             fixture.detectChanges();
diff --git a/src/lib/datepicker/calendar.ts b/src/lib/datepicker/calendar.ts
index d7d76ddbf64e..14ed0795c58c 100644
--- a/src/lib/datepicker/calendar.ts
+++ b/src/lib/datepicker/calendar.ts
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ import {createMissingDateImplError} from './datepicker-errors';
 import {MatDatepickerIntl} from './datepicker-intl';
 import {MatMonthView} from './month-view';
 import {MatYearView} from './year-view';
+import {Directionality} from '@angular/cdk/bidi';
 
 
 /**
@@ -162,7 +163,8 @@ export class MatCalendar<D> implements AfterContentInit, OnDestroy, OnChanges {
               private _ngZone: NgZone,
               @Optional() private _dateAdapter: DateAdapter<D>,
               @Optional() @Inject(MAT_DATE_FORMATS) private _dateFormats: MatDateFormats,
-              changeDetectorRef: ChangeDetectorRef) {
+              changeDetectorRef: ChangeDetectorRef,
+              @Optional() private _dir?: Directionality) {
 
     if (!this._dateAdapter) {
       throw createMissingDateImplError('DateAdapter');
@@ -277,12 +279,14 @@ export class MatCalendar<D> implements AfterContentInit, OnDestroy, OnChanges {
 
   /** Handles keydown events on the calendar body when calendar is in month view. */
   private _handleCalendarBodyKeydownInMonthView(event: KeyboardEvent): void {
+    const isRtl = this._isRtl();
+
     switch (event.keyCode) {
       case LEFT_ARROW:
-        this._activeDate = this._dateAdapter.addCalendarDays(this._activeDate, -1);
+        this._activeDate = this._dateAdapter.addCalendarDays(this._activeDate, isRtl ? 1 : -1);
         break;
       case RIGHT_ARROW:
-        this._activeDate = this._dateAdapter.addCalendarDays(this._activeDate, 1);
+        this._activeDate = this._dateAdapter.addCalendarDays(this._activeDate, isRtl ? -1 : 1);
         break;
       case UP_ARROW:
         this._activeDate = this._dateAdapter.addCalendarDays(this._activeDate, -7);
@@ -329,12 +333,14 @@ export class MatCalendar<D> implements AfterContentInit, OnDestroy, OnChanges {
 
   /** Handles keydown events on the calendar body when calendar is in year view. */
   private _handleCalendarBodyKeydownInYearView(event: KeyboardEvent): void {
+    const isRtl = this._isRtl();
+
     switch (event.keyCode) {
       case LEFT_ARROW:
-        this._activeDate = this._dateAdapter.addCalendarMonths(this._activeDate, -1);
+        this._activeDate = this._dateAdapter.addCalendarMonths(this._activeDate, isRtl ? 1 : -1);
         break;
       case RIGHT_ARROW:
-        this._activeDate = this._dateAdapter.addCalendarMonths(this._activeDate, 1);
+        this._activeDate = this._dateAdapter.addCalendarMonths(this._activeDate, isRtl ? -1 : 1);
         break;
       case UP_ARROW:
         this._activeDate = this._prevMonthInSameCol(this._activeDate);
@@ -396,4 +402,9 @@ export class MatCalendar<D> implements AfterContentInit, OnDestroy, OnChanges {
   private _getValidDateOrNull(obj: any): D | null {
     return (this._dateAdapter.isDateInstance(obj) && this._dateAdapter.isValid(obj)) ? obj : null;
   }
+
+  /** Determines whether the user has the RTL layout direction. */
+  private _isRtl() {
+    return this._dir && this._dir.value === 'rtl';
+  }
 }