diff --git a/src/lib/grid-list/grid-list.ts b/src/lib/grid-list/grid-list.ts
index 64f7aade1644..4a40b27e3cc1 100644
--- a/src/lib/grid-list/grid-list.ts
+++ b/src/lib/grid-list/grid-list.ts
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import {
   Renderer2,
   ElementRef,
   Optional,
+  ChangeDetectionStrategy,
 } from '@angular/core';
 import {MdGridTile} from './grid-tile';
 import {TileCoordinator} from './tile-coordinator';
@@ -43,6 +44,7 @@ const MD_FIT_MODE = 'fit';
     'role': 'list',
     'class': 'mat-grid-list',
   },
+  changeDetection: ChangeDetectionStrategy.OnPush,
   encapsulation: ViewEncapsulation.None,
 })
 export class MdGridList implements OnInit, AfterContentChecked {
diff --git a/src/lib/grid-list/grid-tile.ts b/src/lib/grid-list/grid-tile.ts
index 5e22cc7d2d21..2f969be9a986 100644
--- a/src/lib/grid-list/grid-tile.ts
+++ b/src/lib/grid-list/grid-tile.ts
@@ -14,7 +14,9 @@ import {
   Input,
   ContentChildren,
   QueryList,
-  AfterContentInit, Directive
+  AfterContentInit,
+  Directive,
+  ChangeDetectionStrategy,
 } from '@angular/core';
 import {MdLine, MdLineSetter} from '../core';
 import {coerceToNumber} from './grid-list-measure';
@@ -29,6 +31,7 @@ import {coerceToNumber} from './grid-list-measure';
   templateUrl: 'grid-tile.html',
   styleUrls: ['grid-list.css'],
   encapsulation: ViewEncapsulation.None,
+  changeDetection: ChangeDetectionStrategy.OnPush,
 })
 export class MdGridTile {
   _rowspan: number = 1;
@@ -58,7 +61,8 @@ export class MdGridTile {
 @Component({
   moduleId: module.id,
   selector: 'md-grid-tile-header, mat-grid-tile-header, md-grid-tile-footer, mat-grid-tile-footer',
-  templateUrl: 'grid-tile-text.html'
+  templateUrl: 'grid-tile-text.html',
+  changeDetection: ChangeDetectionStrategy.OnPush,
 })
 export class MdGridTileText implements AfterContentInit {
   /**