diff --git a/src/lib/tabs/tab-header.scss b/src/lib/tabs/tab-header.scss
index 7cb991a472c5..3ecf4231fc6d 100644
--- a/src/lib/tabs/tab-header.scss
+++ b/src/lib/tabs/tab-header.scss
@@ -82,4 +82,12 @@
 
 .mat-tab-labels {
   display: flex;
+
+  [mat-align-tabs='center'] & {
+    justify-content: center;
+  }
+
+  [mat-align-tabs='end'] & {
+    justify-content: flex-end;
+  }
 }
diff --git a/src/lib/tabs/tabs.md b/src/lib/tabs/tabs.md
index 0685355dfce4..930b15738232 100644
--- a/src/lib/tabs/tabs.md
+++ b/src/lib/tabs/tabs.md
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ the `active` property to determine which tab is currently active. The correspond
 ### Lazy Loading
 By default, the tab contents are eagerly loaded. Eagerly loaded tabs
 will initalize the child components but not inject them into the DOM
-until the tab is activated. 
+until the tab is activated.
 
 
 If the tab contains several complex child components or the tab's contents
@@ -108,6 +108,12 @@ with the `matTabContent` attribute.
 </mat-tab-group>
 ```
 
+### Label alignment
+If you want to align the tab labels in the center or towards the end of the container, you can
+do so using the `[mat-align-tabs]` attribute.
+
+<!-- example(tab-group-align) -->
+
 ### Accessibility
 Tabs without text or labels should be given a meaningful label via `aria-label` or
 `aria-labelledby`. For `MatTabNav`, the `<nav>` element should have a label as well.
diff --git a/src/material-examples/tab-group-align/tab-group-align-example.css b/src/material-examples/tab-group-align/tab-group-align-example.css
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..d0f47895f9f9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/material-examples/tab-group-align/tab-group-align-example.css
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+.mat-tab-group {
+  margin-bottom: 48px;
+}
diff --git a/src/material-examples/tab-group-align/tab-group-align-example.html b/src/material-examples/tab-group-align/tab-group-align-example.html
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..f01f02730a42
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/material-examples/tab-group-align/tab-group-align-example.html
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+<mat-tab-group mat-align-tabs="start">
+  <mat-tab label="First">Content 1</mat-tab>
+  <mat-tab label="Second">Content 2</mat-tab>
+  <mat-tab label="Third">Content 3</mat-tab>
+</mat-tab-group>
+
+<mat-tab-group mat-align-tabs="center">
+  <mat-tab label="First">Content 1</mat-tab>
+  <mat-tab label="Second">Content 2</mat-tab>
+  <mat-tab label="Third">Content 3</mat-tab>
+</mat-tab-group>
+
+<mat-tab-group mat-align-tabs="end">
+  <mat-tab label="First">Content 1</mat-tab>
+  <mat-tab label="Second">Content 2</mat-tab>
+  <mat-tab label="Third">Content 3</mat-tab>
+</mat-tab-group>
diff --git a/src/material-examples/tab-group-align/tab-group-align-example.ts b/src/material-examples/tab-group-align/tab-group-align-example.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..4a321ba38f0f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/material-examples/tab-group-align/tab-group-align-example.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+import {Component} from '@angular/core';
+
+/**
+ * @title Tab group with aligned labels
+ */
+@Component({
+  selector: 'tab-group-align-example',
+  templateUrl: 'tab-group-align-example.html',
+  styleUrls: ['tab-group-align-example.css'],
+})
+export class TabGroupAlignExample {}