diff --git a/src/material-experimental/mdc-card/card.scss b/src/material-experimental/mdc-card/card.scss
index 2457dfad39f7..79394913d289 100644
--- a/src/material-experimental/mdc-card/card.scss
+++ b/src/material-experimental/mdc-card/card.scss
@@ -28,9 +28,11 @@ $mat-card-default-padding: 16px !default;
   // Custom elements default to `display: inline`. Reset to 'block'.
   display: block;
 
-  // Apply default padding for a text content region. Omit any bottom padding because we assume
-  // this region will be followed by another region that includes top padding.
-  padding: $mat-card-default-padding $mat-card-default-padding 0;
+  .mat-mdc-card-avatar ~ .mat-mdc-card-header-text & {
+    // Apply default padding for a text content region. Omit any bottom padding because we assume
+    // this region will be followed by another region that includes top padding.
+    padding: $mat-card-default-padding $mat-card-default-padding 0;
+  }
 }
 
 // Header section at the top of a card. MDC does not have a pre-made header section for cards.
@@ -133,8 +135,11 @@ $mat-card-default-padding: 16px !default;
 // `mat-card-title-group` since the padding is captured by parent container already.
 .mat-mdc-card-subtitle ~ .mat-mdc-card-title,
 .mat-mdc-card-title ~ .mat-mdc-card-subtitle,
-.mat-mdc-card-header .mat-mdc-card-title,
-.mat-mdc-card-header .mat-mdc-card-subtitle,
+
+// The `.mat-mdc-card-header-text` here is redundant since the header text
+// wrapper is always there in the header, but we need the extra specificity.
+.mat-mdc-card-header .mat-mdc-card-header-text .mat-mdc-card-title,
+.mat-mdc-card-header .mat-mdc-card-header-text .mat-mdc-card-subtitle,
 .mat-mdc-card-title-group .mat-mdc-card-title,
 .mat-mdc-card-title-group .mat-mdc-card-subtitle {
   padding-top: 0;
diff --git a/src/material/card/card.scss b/src/material/card/card.scss
index 61e1119649c5..ac4570c16e9a 100644
--- a/src/material/card/card.scss
+++ b/src/material/card/card.scss
@@ -103,7 +103,17 @@ $mat-card-header-size: 40px !default;
 }
 
 .mat-card-header-text {
-  margin: 0 $mat-card-padding;
+  &:not(:first-child) {
+    margin-left: $mat-card-padding;
+  }
+
+  [dir='rtl'] & {
+    margin-left: 0;
+
+    &:not(:first-child) {
+      margin-right: $mat-card-padding;
+    }
+  }
 }
 
 .mat-card-avatar {