diff --git a/src/material-experimental/mdc-chips/chip-grid.spec.ts b/src/material-experimental/mdc-chips/chip-grid.spec.ts
index e18be6e93c6e..2c4a4978d31b 100644
--- a/src/material-experimental/mdc-chips/chip-grid.spec.ts
+++ b/src/material-experimental/mdc-chips/chip-grid.spec.ts
@@ -96,6 +96,22 @@ describe('MatChipGrid', () => {
 
         expect(chips.toArray().every(chip => chip.disabled)).toBe(true);
       }));
+
+      it('should not set a role on the grid when the list is empty', () => {
+        testComponent.chips = [];
+        fixture.detectChanges();
+
+        expect(chipGridNativeElement.hasAttribute('role')).toBe(false);
+      });
+
+      it('should not set aria-required when it does not have a role', () => {
+        testComponent.chips = [];
+        fixture.detectChanges();
+
+        expect(chipGridNativeElement.hasAttribute('role')).toBe(false);
+        expect(chipGridNativeElement.hasAttribute('aria-required')).toBe(false);
+      });
+
     });
 
     describe('focus behaviors', () => {
diff --git a/src/material-experimental/mdc-chips/chip-grid.ts b/src/material-experimental/mdc-chips/chip-grid.ts
index 49533515a155..ac494234c812 100644
--- a/src/material-experimental/mdc-chips/chip-grid.ts
+++ b/src/material-experimental/mdc-chips/chip-grid.ts
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ const _MatChipGridMixinBase: CanUpdateErrorStateCtor & typeof MatChipGridBase =
     '[tabIndex]': '_chips && _chips.length === 0 ? -1 : tabIndex',
     // TODO: replace this binding with use of AriaDescriber
     '[attr.aria-describedby]': '_ariaDescribedby || null',
-    '[attr.aria-required]': 'required.toString()',
+    '[attr.aria-required]': 'role ? required : null',
     '[attr.aria-disabled]': 'disabled.toString()',
     '[attr.aria-invalid]': 'errorState',
     '[class.mat-mdc-chip-list-disabled]': 'disabled',
diff --git a/src/material-experimental/mdc-chips/chip-listbox.spec.ts b/src/material-experimental/mdc-chips/chip-listbox.spec.ts
index c60c25dece40..a04426fc3b46 100644
--- a/src/material-experimental/mdc-chips/chip-listbox.spec.ts
+++ b/src/material-experimental/mdc-chips/chip-listbox.spec.ts
@@ -93,6 +93,22 @@ describe('MatChipListbox', () => {
 
         expect(chips.toArray().every(chip => chip.disabled)).toBe(true);
       }));
+
+      it('should not set a role on the grid when the list is empty', () => {
+        testComponent.chips = [];
+        fixture.detectChanges();
+
+        expect(chipListboxNativeElement.hasAttribute('role')).toBe(false);
+      });
+
+      it('should not set aria-required when it does not have a role', () => {
+        testComponent.chips = [];
+        fixture.detectChanges();
+
+        expect(chipListboxNativeElement.hasAttribute('role')).toBe(false);
+        expect(chipListboxNativeElement.hasAttribute('aria-required')).toBe(false);
+      });
+
     });
 
     describe('with selected chips', () => {
diff --git a/src/material-experimental/mdc-chips/chip-listbox.ts b/src/material-experimental/mdc-chips/chip-listbox.ts
index a4c9f36f760a..0721de85c45b 100644
--- a/src/material-experimental/mdc-chips/chip-listbox.ts
+++ b/src/material-experimental/mdc-chips/chip-listbox.ts
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ export const MAT_CHIP_LISTBOX_CONTROL_VALUE_ACCESSOR: any = {
     '[tabIndex]': 'empty ? -1 : tabIndex',
     // TODO: replace this binding with use of AriaDescriber
     '[attr.aria-describedby]': '_ariaDescribedby || null',
-    '[attr.aria-required]': 'required.toString()',
+    '[attr.aria-required]': 'role ? required : null',
     '[attr.aria-disabled]': 'disabled.toString()',
     '[attr.aria-multiselectable]': 'multiple',
     '[attr.aria-orientation]': 'ariaOrientation',
diff --git a/src/material/chips/chip-list.spec.ts b/src/material/chips/chip-list.spec.ts
index 3dc926178c84..6f44536a2293 100644
--- a/src/material/chips/chip-list.spec.ts
+++ b/src/material/chips/chip-list.spec.ts
@@ -132,6 +132,14 @@ describe('MatChipList', () => {
 
         expect(chipListNativeElement.getAttribute('role')).toBeNull('Expect no role attribute');
       });
+
+      it('should not have aria-required when it has no role', () => {
+        fixture.componentInstance.foods = [];
+        fixture.detectChanges();
+
+        expect(chipListNativeElement.hasAttribute('role')).toBe(false);
+        expect(chipListNativeElement.hasAttribute('aria-required')).toBe(false);
+      });
     });
 
     describe('focus behaviors', () => {
diff --git a/src/material/chips/chip-list.ts b/src/material/chips/chip-list.ts
index 295df155bbbc..65f9e81e38d9 100644
--- a/src/material/chips/chip-list.ts
+++ b/src/material/chips/chip-list.ts
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ export class MatChipListChange {
   host: {
     '[attr.tabindex]': 'disabled ? null : _tabIndex',
     '[attr.aria-describedby]': '_ariaDescribedby || null',
-    '[attr.aria-required]': 'required.toString()',
+    '[attr.aria-required]': 'role ? required : null',
     '[attr.aria-disabled]': 'disabled.toString()',
     '[attr.aria-invalid]': 'errorState',
     '[attr.aria-multiselectable]': 'multiple',