diff --git a/src/cdk-experimental/scrolling/virtual-for-of.ts b/src/cdk-experimental/scrolling/virtual-for-of.ts
index 22c5b4ee5a0d..f5fa0dca3fe3 100644
--- a/src/cdk-experimental/scrolling/virtual-for-of.ts
+++ b/src/cdk-experimental/scrolling/virtual-for-of.ts
@@ -49,8 +49,13 @@ export type CdkVirtualForOfContext<T> = {
 };
 
 
-/** Helper to extract size from a ClientRect. */
-function getSize(orientation: 'horizontal' | 'vertical', rect: ClientRect): number {
+/** Helper to extract size from a DOM Node. */
+function getSize(orientation: 'horizontal' | 'vertical', node: Node): number {
+  const el = node as Element;
+  if (!el.getBoundingClientRect) {
+    return 0;
+  }
+  const rect = el.getBoundingClientRect();
   return orientation == 'horizontal' ? rect.width : rect.height;
 }
 
@@ -193,7 +198,6 @@ export class CdkVirtualForOf<T> implements CollectionViewer, DoCheck, OnDestroy
     const rangeLen = range.end - range.start;
 
     // Loop over all root nodes for all items in the range and sum up their size.
-    // TODO(mmalerba): Make this work with non-element nodes.
     let totalSize = 0;
     let i = rangeLen;
     while (i--) {
@@ -201,7 +205,7 @@ export class CdkVirtualForOf<T> implements CollectionViewer, DoCheck, OnDestroy
           EmbeddedViewRef<CdkVirtualForOfContext<T>> | null;
       let j = view ? view.rootNodes.length : 0;
       while (j--) {
-        totalSize += getSize(orientation, (view!.rootNodes[j] as Element).getBoundingClientRect());
+        totalSize += getSize(orientation, view!.rootNodes[j]);
       }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/cdk-experimental/scrolling/virtual-scroll-viewport.scss b/src/cdk-experimental/scrolling/virtual-scroll-viewport.scss
index b68799167b1e..9b7c5f0377ed 100644
--- a/src/cdk-experimental/scrolling/virtual-scroll-viewport.scss
+++ b/src/cdk-experimental/scrolling/virtual-scroll-viewport.scss
@@ -1,3 +1,32 @@
+// When elements such as `<tr>` or `<li>` are repeated inside the cdk-virtual-scroll-viewport,
+// their container element (e.g. `<table>`, `<ul>`, etc.) needs to be placed in the viewport as
+// well. We reset some properties here to prevent these container elements from introducing
+// additional space that would throw off the the scrolling calculations.
+@mixin _cdk-virtual-scroll-clear-container-space($direction) {
+  $start: if($direction == horizontal, 'left', 'top');
+  $end: if($direction == horizontal, 'right', 'bottom');
+
+  & > dl:not([cdkVirtualFor]),
+  & > ol:not([cdkVirtualFor]),
+  & > table:not([cdkVirtualFor]),
+  & > ul:not([cdkVirtualFor]) {
+    padding: {
+      #{$start}: 0;
+      #{$end}: 0;
+    }
+    margin: {
+      #{$start}: 0;
+      #{$end}: 0;
+    }
+    border: {
+      #{$start}-width: 0;
+      #{$end}-width: 0;
+    }
+    outline: none;
+  }
+}
+
+
 // Scrolling container.
 cdk-virtual-scroll-viewport {
   display: block;
@@ -16,10 +45,12 @@ cdk-virtual-scroll-viewport {
 
 .cdk-virtual-scroll-orientation-horizontal .cdk-virtual-scroll-content-wrapper {
   bottom: 0;
+  @include _cdk-virtual-scroll-clear-container-space(horizontal);
 }
 
 .cdk-virtual-scroll-orientation-vertical .cdk-virtual-scroll-content-wrapper {
   right: 0;
+  @include _cdk-virtual-scroll-clear-container-space(vertical);
 }
 
 // Spacer element that whose width or height will be adjusted to match the size of the entire data
diff --git a/src/cdk-experimental/scrolling/virtual-scroll-viewport.spec.ts b/src/cdk-experimental/scrolling/virtual-scroll-viewport.spec.ts
index 2aea398549de..6fe679a20a54 100644
--- a/src/cdk-experimental/scrolling/virtual-scroll-viewport.spec.ts
+++ b/src/cdk-experimental/scrolling/virtual-scroll-viewport.spec.ts
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ describe('CdkVirtualScrollViewport', () => {
       finishInit(fixture);
 
       const contentWrapper =
-          viewport.elementRef.nativeElement.querySelector('.cdk-virtual-scroll-content-wrapper');
+          viewport.elementRef.nativeElement.querySelector('.cdk-virtual-scroll-content-wrapper')!;
       expect(contentWrapper.children.length)
           .toBe(4, 'should render 4 50px items to fill 200px space');
     }));
@@ -507,7 +507,7 @@ describe('CdkVirtualScrollViewport', () => {
       finishInit(fixture);
 
       const contentWrapper =
-          viewport.elementRef.nativeElement.querySelector('.cdk-virtual-scroll-content-wrapper');
+          viewport.elementRef.nativeElement.querySelector('.cdk-virtual-scroll-content-wrapper')!;
       expect(contentWrapper.children.length)
           .toBe(4, 'should render 4 50px items to fill 200px space');
     }));
@@ -517,7 +517,7 @@ describe('CdkVirtualScrollViewport', () => {
       finishInit(fixture);
 
       const contentWrapper =
-          viewport.elementRef.nativeElement.querySelector('.cdk-virtual-scroll-content-wrapper');
+          viewport.elementRef.nativeElement.querySelector('.cdk-virtual-scroll-content-wrapper')!;
       expect(contentWrapper.children.length).toBe(4,
           'should render 4 items to fill 200px space based on 50px estimate from first item');
     }));
diff --git a/src/cdk-experimental/scrolling/virtual-scroll-viewport.ts b/src/cdk-experimental/scrolling/virtual-scroll-viewport.ts
index d6e456a262b6..670946ca305c 100644
--- a/src/cdk-experimental/scrolling/virtual-scroll-viewport.ts
+++ b/src/cdk-experimental/scrolling/virtual-scroll-viewport.ts
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ export class CdkVirtualScrollViewport implements OnInit, OnDestroy {
   @Input() orientation: 'horizontal' | 'vertical' = 'vertical';
 
   /** The element that wraps the rendered content. */
-  @ViewChild('contentWrapper') _contentWrapper: ElementRef;
+  @ViewChild('contentWrapper') _contentWrapper: ElementRef<HTMLElement>;
 
   /** A stream that emits whenever the rendered range changes. */
   renderedRangeStream: Observable<ListRange> = this._renderedRangeSubject.asObservable();
@@ -67,7 +67,10 @@ export class CdkVirtualScrollViewport implements OnInit, OnDestroy {
    */
   _totalContentSize = 0;
 
-  /** The the rendered content transform. */
+  /**
+   * The CSS transform applied to the rendered subset of items so that they appear within the bounds
+   * of the visible viewport.
+   */
   private _renderedContentTransform: string;
 
   /** The currently rendered range of indices. */
@@ -103,7 +106,7 @@ export class CdkVirtualScrollViewport implements OnInit, OnDestroy {
   /** A list of functions to run after the next change detection cycle. */
   private _runAfterChangeDetection: Function[] = [];
 
-  constructor(public elementRef: ElementRef,
+  constructor(public elementRef: ElementRef<HTMLElement>,
               private _changeDetectorRef: ChangeDetectorRef,
               private _ngZone: NgZone,
               @Inject(VIRTUAL_SCROLL_STRATEGY) private _scrollStrategy: VirtualScrollStrategy) {}
@@ -327,7 +330,7 @@ export class CdkVirtualScrollViewport implements OnInit, OnDestroy {
       }
     }
 
-    for (let fn of this._runAfterChangeDetection) {
+    for (const fn of this._runAfterChangeDetection) {
       fn();
     }
     this._runAfterChangeDetection = [];
diff --git a/src/cdk-experimental/scrolling/virtual-scroll.md b/src/cdk-experimental/scrolling/virtual-scroll.md
index 12f275d88f65..9f892254573e 100644
--- a/src/cdk-experimental/scrolling/virtual-scroll.md
+++ b/src/cdk-experimental/scrolling/virtual-scroll.md
@@ -142,3 +142,21 @@ content.
   ...
 </cdk-virtual-scroll-viewport>
 ```
+
+### Elements with parent tag requirements
+Some HTML elements such as `<tr>` and `<li>` have limitations on the kinds of parent elements they
+can be placed inside. To enable virtual scrolling over these type of elements, place the elements in
+their proper parent, and then wrap the whole thing in a `cdk-virtual-scroll-viewport`. Be careful
+that the parent does not introduce additional space (e.g. via `margin` or `padding`) as it will
+interfere with the scrolling.
+
+```html
+<cdk-virtual-scroll-viewport itemSize="50">
+  <table>
+    <tr *cdkVirtualFor="let row of rows">
+      <td>{{row.first}}</td>
+      <td>{{row.second}}</td>
+    </tr>
+  </table>
+</cdk-virtual-scroll-viewport>
+```
diff --git a/src/demo-app/virtual-scroll/virtual-scroll-demo.html b/src/demo-app/virtual-scroll/virtual-scroll-demo.html
index 7c8b754eee04..f479593e64bb 100644
--- a/src/demo-app/virtual-scroll/virtual-scroll-demo.html
+++ b/src/demo-app/virtual-scroll/virtual-scroll-demo.html
@@ -94,3 +94,45 @@ <h2>trackBy state name</h2>
     <div class="demo-capital">{{state.capital}}</div>
   </div>
 </cdk-virtual-scroll-viewport>
+
+<h2>Use with <code>&lt;ol&gt;</code></h2>
+
+<cdk-virtual-scroll-viewport class="demo-viewport" autosize #viewport>
+  <ol class="demo-ol" [start]="viewport.getRenderedRange().start + 1">
+    <li *cdkVirtualFor="let state of statesObservable | async" class="demo-li">
+      {{state.name}} - {{state.capital}}
+    </li>
+  </ol>
+</cdk-virtual-scroll-viewport>
+
+<h2>Use with <code>&lt;ul&gt;</code></h2>
+
+<cdk-virtual-scroll-viewport class="demo-viewport" autosize>
+  <ul class="demo-ul">
+    <li *cdkVirtualFor="let state of statesObservable | async" class="demo-li">
+      {{state.name}} - {{state.capital}}
+    </li>
+  </ul>
+</cdk-virtual-scroll-viewport>
+
+<h2>Use with <code>&lt;dl&gt;</code></h2>
+
+<cdk-virtual-scroll-viewport class="demo-viewport" autosize>
+  <dl class="demo-dl">
+    <ng-container *cdkVirtualFor="let state of statesObservable | async">
+      <dt class="demo-dt">{{state.name}}</dt>
+      <dd class="demo-dd">{{state.capital}}</dd>
+    </ng-container>
+  </dl>
+</cdk-virtual-scroll-viewport>
+
+<h2>Use with <code>&lt;table&gt;</code></h2>
+
+<cdk-virtual-scroll-viewport class="demo-viewport" autosize>
+  <table class="demo-ol">
+    <tr *cdkVirtualFor="let state of statesObservable | async" class="demo-tr">
+      <td class="demo-td">{{state.name}}</td>
+      <td class="demo-td">{{state.capital}}</td>
+    </tr>
+  </table>
+</cdk-virtual-scroll-viewport>
diff --git a/src/demo-app/virtual-scroll/virtual-scroll-demo.scss b/src/demo-app/virtual-scroll/virtual-scroll-demo.scss
index 58e9e1741b3c..0aa6a2a48e6f 100644
--- a/src/demo-app/virtual-scroll/virtual-scroll-demo.scss
+++ b/src/demo-app/virtual-scroll/virtual-scroll-demo.scss
@@ -37,3 +37,21 @@
 .demo-capital {
   font-size: 14px;
 }
+
+.demo-dt {
+  height: 30px;
+  font-weight: bold;
+}
+
+.demo-dd {
+  height: 30px;
+}
+
+.demo-li,
+.demo-td {
+  height: 50px;
+}
+
+.demo-td {
+  border: 1px solid gray;
+}