diff --git a/src/material/list/list-base.ts b/src/material/list/list-base.ts
index 327d2ec3698c..f62d34ee806b 100644
--- a/src/material/list/list-base.ts
+++ b/src/material/list/list-base.ts
@@ -77,6 +77,7 @@ export abstract class MatListBase {
   host: {
     '[class.mdc-list-item--disabled]': 'disabled',
     '[attr.aria-disabled]': 'disabled',
+    '[attr.disabled]': '(_isButtonElement && disabled) || null',
   },
 })
 /** @docs-private */
@@ -98,6 +99,9 @@ export abstract class MatListItemBase implements AfterViewInit, OnDestroy, Rippl
   /** Host element for the list item. */
   _hostElement: HTMLElement;
 
+  /** indicate whether the host element is a button or not */
+  _isButtonElement: boolean;
+
   /** Whether animations are disabled. */
   _noopAnimations: boolean;
 
@@ -177,6 +181,7 @@ export abstract class MatListItemBase implements AfterViewInit, OnDestroy, Rippl
   ) {
     this.rippleConfig = globalRippleOptions || {};
     this._hostElement = this._elementRef.nativeElement;
+    this._isButtonElement = this._hostElement.nodeName.toLowerCase() === 'button';
     this._noopAnimations = animationMode === 'NoopAnimations';
 
     if (_listBase && !_listBase._isNonInteractive) {
@@ -186,10 +191,7 @@ export abstract class MatListItemBase implements AfterViewInit, OnDestroy, Rippl
     // If no type attribute is specified for a host `<button>` element, set it to `button`. If a
     // type attribute is already specified, we do nothing. We do this for backwards compatibility.
     // TODO: Determine if we intend to continue doing this for the MDC-based list.
-    if (
-      this._hostElement.nodeName.toLowerCase() === 'button' &&
-      !this._hostElement.hasAttribute('type')
-    ) {
+    if (this._isButtonElement && !this._hostElement.hasAttribute('type')) {
       this._hostElement.setAttribute('type', 'button');
     }
   }
diff --git a/src/material/list/list.spec.ts b/src/material/list/list.spec.ts
index 101e3d26e7a8..5b97fc9f1460 100644
--- a/src/material/list/list.spec.ts
+++ b/src/material/list/list.spec.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import {fakeAsync, TestBed, waitForAsync} from '@angular/core/testing';
 import {dispatchFakeEvent, dispatchMouseEvent} from '@angular/cdk/testing/private';
-import {Component, QueryList, ViewChildren} from '@angular/core';
+import {Component, QueryList, ViewChild, ViewChildren} from '@angular/core';
 import {By} from '@angular/platform-browser';
 import {MatListItem, MatListModule} from './index';
 
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@ describe('MDC-based MatList', () => {
         NavListWithActivatedItem,
         ActionListWithoutType,
         ActionListWithType,
+        ActionListWithDisabledList,
+        ActionListWithDisabledItem,
         ListWithDisabledItems,
         StandaloneListItem,
       ],
@@ -377,6 +379,34 @@ describe('MDC-based MatList', () => {
       fixture.detectChanges();
     }).not.toThrow();
   });
+
+  it('should be able to disable and enable the entire action list', () => {
+    const fixture = TestBed.createComponent(ActionListWithDisabledList);
+    const listItems: HTMLElement[] = Array.from(
+      fixture.nativeElement.querySelectorAll('[mat-list-item]'),
+    );
+    fixture.detectChanges();
+
+    expect(listItems.every(listItem => listItem.hasAttribute('disabled'))).toBe(true);
+
+    fixture.componentInstance.disableList = false;
+    fixture.detectChanges();
+
+    expect(listItems.every(listItem => !listItem.hasAttribute('disabled'))).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it('should be able to disable and enable button item', () => {
+    const fixture = TestBed.createComponent(ActionListWithDisabledItem);
+    const buttonItem: HTMLButtonElement = fixture.nativeElement.querySelector('[mat-list-item]');
+    fixture.detectChanges();
+
+    expect(buttonItem.hasAttribute('disabled')).toBe(true);
+
+    fixture.componentInstance.buttonItem.disabled = false;
+    fixture.detectChanges();
+
+    expect(buttonItem.hasAttribute('disabled')).toBe(false);
+  });
 });
 
 class BaseTestList {
@@ -460,6 +490,31 @@ class ActionListWithType extends BaseTestList {
   @ViewChildren(MatListItem) listItems: QueryList<MatListItem>;
 }
 
+@Component({
+  template: `
+  <mat-action-list [disabled]="disableList">
+    <button mat-list-item *ngFor="let item of items">
+      {{item.name}}
+    </button>
+  </mat-action-list>`,
+})
+class ActionListWithDisabledList extends BaseTestList {
+  disableList = true;
+}
+
+@Component({
+  template: `
+  <mat-action-list>
+    <button mat-list-item [disabled]="disableItem">
+      Paprika
+    </button>
+  </mat-action-list>`,
+})
+class ActionListWithDisabledItem extends BaseTestList {
+  @ViewChild(MatListItem) buttonItem: MatListItem;
+  disableItem = true;
+}
+
 @Component({
   template: `
   <mat-list>