diff --git a/.all-contributorsrc b/.all-contributorsrc
index c913500b..ebeab27b 100644
--- a/.all-contributorsrc
+++ b/.all-contributorsrc
@@ -314,6 +314,16 @@
         "doc"
       ]
     },
+    {
+      "login": "thesalah",
+      "name": "Salah",
+      "avatar_url": "https://avatars3.githubusercontent.com/u/6624197?v=4",
+      "profile": "https://github.com/thesalah",
+      "contributions": [
+        "code",
+        "test"
+      ]
+    },
     {
       "login": "icfantv",
       "name": "Adam Gordon",
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 53d32477..a43ea852 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 [![downloads][downloads-badge]][npmtrends]
 [![MIT License][license-badge]][license]
 
-[![All Contributors](https://img.shields.io/badge/all_contributors-32-orange.svg?style=flat-square)](#contributors)
+[![All Contributors](https://img.shields.io/badge/all_contributors-33-orange.svg?style=flat-square)](#contributors)
 [![PRs Welcome][prs-badge]][prs]
 [![Code of Conduct][coc-badge]][coc]
 [![Join the community on Spectrum][spectrum-badge]][spectrum]
@@ -331,6 +331,9 @@ const usernameInputElement = getByTestId('username-input')
 
 Render into `document.body`. Should be used with [cleanup](#cleanup).
 `renderIntoDocument` will return the same object as [render](#render)
+but with test utilities exposed for `document.documentElement` rather
+than the `container` alone. This helps to test
+[React portal](https://reactjs.org/docs/portals.html) elements.
 
 ```javascript
 import {renderIntoDocument} from 'react-testing-library'
@@ -914,7 +917,7 @@ Thanks goes to these people ([emoji key][emojis]):
 | [<img src="https://avatars1.githubusercontent.com/u/1241511?s=460&v=4" width="100px;"/><br /><sub><b>Anto Aravinth</b></sub>](https://github.com/antoaravinth)<br />[💻](https://github.com/kentcdodds/react-testing-library/commits?author=antoaravinth "Code") [⚠️](https://github.com/kentcdodds/react-testing-library/commits?author=antoaravinth "Tests") [📖](https://github.com/kentcdodds/react-testing-library/commits?author=antoaravinth "Documentation") | [<img src="https://avatars2.githubusercontent.com/u/3462296?v=4" width="100px;"/><br /><sub><b>Jonah Moses</b></sub>](https://github.com/JonahMoses)<br />[📖](https://github.com/kentcdodds/react-testing-library/commits?author=JonahMoses "Documentation") | [<img src="https://avatars1.githubusercontent.com/u/4002543?v=4" width="100px;"/><br /><sub><b>Łukasz Gandecki</b></sub>](http://team.thebrain.pro)<br />[💻](https://github.com/kentcdodds/react-testing-library/commits?author=lgandecki "Code") [⚠️](https://github.com/kentcdodds/react-testing-library/commits?author=lgandecki "Tests") [📖](https://github.com/kentcdodds/react-testing-library/commits?author=lgandecki "Documentation") | [<img src="https://avatars2.githubusercontent.com/u/498274?v=4" width="100px;"/><br /><sub><b>Ivan Babak</b></sub>](https://sompylasar.github.io)<br />[🐛](https://github.com/kentcdodds/react-testing-library/issues?q=author%3Asompylasar "Bug reports") [🤔](#ideas-sompylasar "Ideas, Planning, & Feedback") | [<img src="https://avatars3.githubusercontent.com/u/4439618?v=4" width="100px;"/><br /><sub><b>Jesse Day</b></sub>](https://github.com/jday3)<br />[💻](https://github.com/kentcdodds/react-testing-library/commits?author=jday3 "Code") | [<img src="https://avatars0.githubusercontent.com/u/15199?v=4" width="100px;"/><br /><sub><b>Ernesto García</b></sub>](http://gnapse.github.io)<br />[💬](#question-gnapse "Answering Questions") [💻](https://github.com/kentcdodds/react-testing-library/commits?author=gnapse "Code") [📖](https://github.com/kentcdodds/react-testing-library/commits?author=gnapse "Documentation") | [<img src="https://avatars2.githubusercontent.com/u/2747424?v=4" width="100px;"/><br /><sub><b>Josef Maxx Blake</b></sub>](http://jomaxx.com)<br />[💻](https://github.com/kentcdodds/react-testing-library/commits?author=jomaxx "Code") [📖](https://github.com/kentcdodds/react-testing-library/commits?author=jomaxx "Documentation") [⚠️](https://github.com/kentcdodds/react-testing-library/commits?author=jomaxx "Tests") |
 | [<img src="https://avatars1.githubusercontent.com/u/29602306?v=4" width="100px;"/><br /><sub><b>Michal Baranowski</b></sub>](https://twitter.com/baranovskim)<br />[📝](#blog-mbaranovski "Blogposts") [✅](#tutorial-mbaranovski "Tutorials") | [<img src="https://avatars3.githubusercontent.com/u/13985684?v=4" width="100px;"/><br /><sub><b>Arthur Puthin</b></sub>](https://github.com/aputhin)<br />[📖](https://github.com/kentcdodds/react-testing-library/commits?author=aputhin "Documentation") | [<img src="https://avatars2.githubusercontent.com/u/21194045?v=4" width="100px;"/><br /><sub><b>Thomas Chia</b></sub>](https://github.com/thchia)<br />[💻](https://github.com/kentcdodds/react-testing-library/commits?author=thchia "Code") [📖](https://github.com/kentcdodds/react-testing-library/commits?author=thchia "Documentation") | [<img src="https://avatars3.githubusercontent.com/u/20430611?v=4" width="100px;"/><br /><sub><b>Thiago Galvani</b></sub>](http://ilegra.com/)<br />[📖](https://github.com/kentcdodds/react-testing-library/commits?author=thiagopaiva99 "Documentation") | [<img src="https://avatars1.githubusercontent.com/u/19828824?v=4" width="100px;"/><br /><sub><b>Christian</b></sub>](http://Chriswcs.github.io)<br />[⚠️](https://github.com/kentcdodds/react-testing-library/commits?author=ChrisWcs "Tests") | [<img src="https://avatars3.githubusercontent.com/u/1571667?v=4" width="100px;"/><br /><sub><b>Alex Krolick</b></sub>](https://alexkrolick.com)<br />[💬](#question-alexkrolick "Answering Questions") [📖](https://github.com/kentcdodds/react-testing-library/commits?author=alexkrolick "Documentation") [💡](#example-alexkrolick "Examples") [🤔](#ideas-alexkrolick "Ideas, Planning, & Feedback") | [<img src="https://avatars3.githubusercontent.com/u/1239401?v=4" width="100px;"/><br /><sub><b>Johann Hubert Sonntagbauer</b></sub>](https://github.com/johann-sonntagbauer)<br />[💻](https://github.com/kentcdodds/react-testing-library/commits?author=johann-sonntagbauer "Code") [📖](https://github.com/kentcdodds/react-testing-library/commits?author=johann-sonntagbauer "Documentation") [⚠️](https://github.com/kentcdodds/react-testing-library/commits?author=johann-sonntagbauer "Tests") |
 | [<img src="https://avatars2.githubusercontent.com/u/2224291?v=4" width="100px;"/><br /><sub><b>Maddi Joyce</b></sub>](http://www.maddijoyce.com)<br />[💻](https://github.com/kentcdodds/react-testing-library/commits?author=maddijoyce "Code") | [<img src="https://avatars2.githubusercontent.com/u/10080111?v=4" width="100px;"/><br /><sub><b>Ryan Vice</b></sub>](http://www.vicesoftware.com)<br />[📖](https://github.com/kentcdodds/react-testing-library/commits?author=RyanAtViceSoftware "Documentation") | [<img src="https://avatars1.githubusercontent.com/u/7942604?v=4" width="100px;"/><br /><sub><b>Ian Wilson</b></sub>](https://ianwilson.io)<br />[📝](#blog-iwilsonq "Blogposts") [✅](#tutorial-iwilsonq "Tutorials") | [<img src="https://avatars2.githubusercontent.com/u/1635491?v=4" width="100px;"/><br /><sub><b>Daniel</b></sub>](https://github.com/InExtremaRes)<br />[🐛](https://github.com/kentcdodds/react-testing-library/issues?q=author%3AInExtremaRes "Bug reports") [💻](https://github.com/kentcdodds/react-testing-library/commits?author=InExtremaRes "Code") | [<img src="https://avatars0.githubusercontent.com/u/767959?v=4" width="100px;"/><br /><sub><b>Giorgio Polvara</b></sub>](https://twitter.com/Gpx)<br />[🐛](https://github.com/kentcdodds/react-testing-library/issues?q=author%3AGpx "Bug reports") [🤔](#ideas-Gpx "Ideas, Planning, & Feedback") | [<img src="https://avatars2.githubusercontent.com/u/132233?v=4" width="100px;"/><br /><sub><b>John Gozde</b></sub>](https://github.com/jgoz)<br />[💻](https://github.com/kentcdodds/react-testing-library/commits?author=jgoz "Code") | [<img src="https://avatars0.githubusercontent.com/u/8203211?v=4" width="100px;"/><br /><sub><b>Sam Horton</b></sub>](https://twitter.com/SavePointSam)<br />[📖](https://github.com/kentcdodds/react-testing-library/commits?author=SavePointSam "Documentation") [💡](#example-SavePointSam "Examples") [🤔](#ideas-SavePointSam "Ideas, Planning, & Feedback") |
-| [<img src="https://avatars2.githubusercontent.com/u/10452163?v=4" width="100px;"/><br /><sub><b>Richard Kotze (mobile)</b></sub>](http://www.richardkotze.com)<br />[📖](https://github.com/kentcdodds/react-testing-library/commits?author=rkotze "Documentation") | [<img src="https://avatars2.githubusercontent.com/u/10819833?v=4" width="100px;"/><br /><sub><b>Brahian E. Soto Mercedes</b></sub>](https://github.com/sotobuild)<br />[📖](https://github.com/kentcdodds/react-testing-library/commits?author=sotobuild "Documentation") | [<img src="https://avatars2.githubusercontent.com/u/7151559?v=4" width="100px;"/><br /><sub><b>Benoit de La Forest</b></sub>](https://github.com/bdelaforest)<br />[📖](https://github.com/kentcdodds/react-testing-library/commits?author=bdelaforest "Documentation") | [<img src="https://avatars2.githubusercontent.com/u/370054?v=4" width="100px;"/><br /><sub><b>Adam Gordon</b></sub>](http://gordonizer.com)<br />[🐛](https://github.com/kentcdodds/react-testing-library/issues?q=author%3Aicfantv "Bug reports") [💻](https://github.com/kentcdodds/react-testing-library/commits?author=icfantv "Code") |
+| [<img src="https://avatars2.githubusercontent.com/u/10452163?v=4" width="100px;"/><br /><sub><b>Richard Kotze (mobile)</b></sub>](http://www.richardkotze.com)<br />[📖](https://github.com/kentcdodds/react-testing-library/commits?author=rkotze "Documentation") | [<img src="https://avatars2.githubusercontent.com/u/10819833?v=4" width="100px;"/><br /><sub><b>Brahian E. Soto Mercedes</b></sub>](https://github.com/sotobuild)<br />[📖](https://github.com/kentcdodds/react-testing-library/commits?author=sotobuild "Documentation") | [<img src="https://avatars2.githubusercontent.com/u/7151559?v=4" width="100px;"/><br /><sub><b>Benoit de La Forest</b></sub>](https://github.com/bdelaforest)<br />[📖](https://github.com/kentcdodds/react-testing-library/commits?author=bdelaforest "Documentation") | [<img src="https://avatars2.githubusercontent.com/u/370054?v=4" width="100px;"/><br /><sub><b>Adam Gordon</b></sub>](http://gordonizer.com)<br />[🐛](https://github.com/kentcdodds/react-testing-library/issues?q=author%3Aicfantv "Bug reports") [💻](https://github.com/kentcdodds/react-testing-library/commits?author=icfantv "Code") | [<img src="https://avatars3.githubusercontent.com/u/6624197?v=4" width="100px;"/><br /><sub><b>Salah</b></sub>](https://github.com/thesalah)<br />[💻](https://github.com/kentcdodds/react-testing-library/commits?author=thesalah "Code") [⚠️](https://github.com/kentcdodds/react-testing-library/commits?author=thesalah "Tests") |
 
 <!-- ALL-CONTRIBUTORS-LIST:END -->
 
diff --git a/src/__tests__/render-into-document.js b/src/__tests__/render-into-document.js
index 886e239a..2b7351fe 100644
--- a/src/__tests__/render-into-document.js
+++ b/src/__tests__/render-into-document.js
@@ -9,6 +9,15 @@ it('renders button into document', () => {
   expect(container.firstChild).toBe(ref.current)
 })
 
+it('access portal elements inside body', () => {
+  const {getByText} = renderIntoDocument(<div />)
+  const portalComponent = document.createElement('div')
+  portalComponent.appendChild(document.createTextNode('Hello World'))
+  document.body.appendChild(portalComponent)
+  expect(getByText('Hello World')).not.toBeNull()
+  document.body.removeChild(portalComponent)
+})
+
 it('cleansup document', () => {
   const spy = jest.fn()
 
diff --git a/src/index.js b/src/index.js
index c23b88bb..3d328dc9 100644
--- a/src/index.js
+++ b/src/index.js
@@ -2,19 +2,22 @@ import ReactDOM from 'react-dom'
 import {Simulate} from 'react-dom/test-utils'
 import {getQueriesForElement, prettyDOM} from 'dom-testing-library'
 
-function render(ui, {container = document.createElement('div')} = {}) {
+function render(
+  ui,
+  {container = document.createElement('div'), baseElement = container} = {},
+) {
   ReactDOM.render(ui, container)
   return {
     container,
     // eslint-disable-next-line no-console
-    debug: () => console.log(prettyDOM(container)),
+    debug: () => console.log(prettyDOM(baseElement)),
     unmount: () => ReactDOM.unmountComponentAtNode(container),
     rerender: rerenderUi => {
       render(rerenderUi, {container})
       // Intentionally do not return anything to avoid unnecessarily complicating the API.
       // folks can use all the same utilities we return in the first place that are bound to the container
     },
-    ...getQueriesForElement(container),
+    ...getQueriesForElement(baseElement),
   }
 }
 
@@ -23,7 +26,7 @@ const mountedContainers = new Set()
 function renderIntoDocument(ui) {
   const container = document.body.appendChild(document.createElement('div'))
   mountedContainers.add(container)
-  return render(ui, {container})
+  return render(ui, {container, baseElement: document.documentElement})
 }
 
 function cleanup() {