diff --git a/src/lib/list/_list-theme.scss b/src/lib/list/_list-theme.scss
index 09f44509c4e3..7b92854808e7 100644
--- a/src/lib/list/_list-theme.scss
+++ b/src/lib/list/_list-theme.scss
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
   $background: map-get($theme, background);
   $foreground: map-get($theme, foreground);
 
-  .mat-list, .mat-nav-list, .mat-selection-list {
+  .mat-list-base {
     .mat-list-item {
       color: mat-color($foreground, text);
     }
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@
   }
 
   // Default list
-  .mat-list, .mat-nav-list, .mat-selection-list {
+  .mat-list-base {
     .mat-list-item {
       font-size: mat-font-size($config, subheading-2);
       @include mat-line-base(mat-font-size($config, body-1));
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@
   }
 
   // Dense list
-  .mat-list[dense], .mat-nav-list[dense], .mat-selection-list[dense] {
+  .mat-list-base[dense] {
     .mat-list-item {
       font-size: mat-font-size($config, caption);
       @include mat-line-base(mat-font-size($config, caption));
diff --git a/src/lib/list/list.scss b/src/lib/list/list.scss
index 030f6fcd6de9..c28e8c832628 100644
--- a/src/lib/list/list.scss
+++ b/src/lib/list/list.scss
@@ -189,9 +189,7 @@ $mat-list-item-inset-divider-offset: 72px;
 
   // This needs slightly more specificity, because it
   // can be overwritten by the typography styles.
-  .mat-list &,
-  .mat-nav-list &,
-  .mat-selection-list & {
+  .mat-list-base & {
     margin: 0;
   }
 }
@@ -206,7 +204,7 @@ $mat-list-item-inset-divider-offset: 72px;
   }
 }
 
-.mat-list, .mat-nav-list, .mat-selection-list {
+.mat-list-base {
   padding-top: $mat-list-top-padding;
   display: block;
   -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;
@@ -229,9 +227,7 @@ $mat-list-item-inset-divider-offset: 72px;
 }
 
 
-.mat-list[dense],
-.mat-nav-list[dense],
-.mat-selection-list[dense] {
+.mat-list-base[dense] {
   padding-top: $mat-dense-top-padding;
   display: block;
 
diff --git a/src/lib/list/list.ts b/src/lib/list/list.ts
index 55011dea74a6..c01dc9d41147 100644
--- a/src/lib/list/list.ts
+++ b/src/lib/list/list.ts
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ export const _MatListItemMixinBase = mixinDisableRipple(MatListItemBase);
   exportAs: 'matNavList',
   host: {
     'role': 'navigation',
-    'class': 'mat-nav-list'
+    'class': 'mat-nav-list mat-list-base'
   },
   templateUrl: 'list.html',
   styleUrls: ['list.css'],
@@ -51,7 +51,9 @@ export class MatNavList extends _MatListMixinBase implements CanDisableRipple {}
   selector: 'mat-list',
   exportAs: 'matList',
   templateUrl: 'list.html',
-  host: {'class': 'mat-list'},
+  host: {
+    'class': 'mat-list mat-list-base'
+  },
   styleUrls: ['list.css'],
   inputs: ['disableRipple'],
   encapsulation: ViewEncapsulation.None,
diff --git a/src/lib/list/selection-list.ts b/src/lib/list/selection-list.ts
index f2dc0862da31..d22041502886 100644
--- a/src/lib/list/selection-list.ts
+++ b/src/lib/list/selection-list.ts
@@ -263,7 +263,7 @@ export class MatListOption extends _MatListOptionMixinBase
   host: {
     'role': 'listbox',
     '[tabIndex]': 'tabIndex',
-    'class': 'mat-selection-list',
+    'class': 'mat-selection-list mat-list-base',
     '(focus)': 'focus()',
     '(blur)': '_onTouched()',
     '(keydown)': '_keydown($event)',