diff --git a/packages/mdc-tab/_mixins.scss b/packages/mdc-tab/_mixins.scss
index 5110b03b1cc..a05d4d7f3b8 100644
--- a/packages/mdc-tab/_mixins.scss
+++ b/packages/mdc-tab/_mixins.scss
@@ -26,7 +26,8 @@
 // Public mixins
 
 @mixin mdc-tab-horizontal-padding($padding) {
-  padding: 0 $padding;
+  padding-right: $padding;
+  padding-left: $padding;
 }
 
 @mixin mdc-tab-text-label-color($color) {
diff --git a/packages/mdc-tab/mdc-tab.scss b/packages/mdc-tab/mdc-tab.scss
index ea51d29d351..3cdd4795de2 100644
--- a/packages/mdc-tab/mdc-tab.scss
+++ b/packages/mdc-tab/mdc-tab.scss
@@ -44,6 +44,8 @@
   height: $mdc-tab-height;
   // Explicitly setting margin to 0 is to override safari default margin for button elements.
   margin: 0;
+  padding-top: 0;
+  padding-bottom: 0;
   border: none;
   outline: none;
   background: none;