diff --git a/src/lib/checkbox/checkbox.spec.ts b/src/lib/checkbox/checkbox.spec.ts
index d6d829f37c0f..a14e901772d8 100644
--- a/src/lib/checkbox/checkbox.spec.ts
+++ b/src/lib/checkbox/checkbox.spec.ts
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ describe('MdCheckbox', () => {
         CheckboxWithChangeEvent,
         CheckboxWithFormControl,
         CheckboxWithoutLabel,
+        CheckboxWithTabindexAttr,
       ],
       providers: [
         {provide: ViewportRuler, useClass: FakeViewportRuler}
@@ -677,6 +678,20 @@ describe('MdCheckbox', () => {
 
   });
 
+  describe('with native tabindex attribute', () => {
+
+    it('should properly detect native tabindex attribute', async(() => {
+      fixture = TestBed.createComponent(CheckboxWithTabindexAttr);
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+
+      const checkbox = fixture.debugElement
+        .query(By.directive(MdCheckbox)).componentInstance as MdCheckbox;
+
+      expect(checkbox.tabIndex)
+        .toBe(5, 'Expected tabIndex property to have been set based on the native attribute');
+    }));
+  });
+
   describe('with multiple checkboxes', () => {
     beforeEach(() => {
       fixture = TestBed.createComponent(MultipleCheckboxes);
@@ -998,3 +1013,9 @@ class CheckboxWithFormControl {
 class CheckboxWithoutLabel {
   label: string;
 }
+
+/** Test component with the native tabindex attribute. */
+@Component({
+  template: `<md-checkbox tabindex="5"></md-checkbox>`
+})
+class CheckboxWithTabindexAttr {}
diff --git a/src/lib/checkbox/checkbox.ts b/src/lib/checkbox/checkbox.ts
index fa32e27a6f45..42fb64cb3663 100644
--- a/src/lib/checkbox/checkbox.ts
+++ b/src/lib/checkbox/checkbox.ts
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 import {coerceBooleanProperty} from '@angular/cdk/coercion';
 import {
   AfterViewInit,
+  Attribute,
   ChangeDetectionStrategy,
   ChangeDetectorRef,
   Component,
@@ -27,10 +28,12 @@ import {
   CanColor,
   CanDisable,
   CanDisableRipple,
+  HasTabIndex,
   MdRipple,
   mixinColor,
   mixinDisabled,
   mixinDisableRipple,
+  mixinTabIndex,
   RippleRef,
 } from '@angular/material/core';
 import {FocusMonitor, FocusOrigin} from '@angular/cdk/a11y';
@@ -79,7 +82,7 @@ export class MdCheckboxBase {
   constructor(public _renderer: Renderer2, public _elementRef: ElementRef) {}
 }
 export const _MdCheckboxMixinBase =
-  mixinColor(mixinDisableRipple(mixinDisabled(MdCheckboxBase)), 'accent');
+  mixinTabIndex(mixinColor(mixinDisableRipple(mixinDisabled(MdCheckboxBase)), 'accent'));
 
 
 /**
@@ -104,13 +107,13 @@ export const _MdCheckboxMixinBase =
     '[class.mat-checkbox-label-before]': 'labelPosition == "before"',
   },
   providers: [MD_CHECKBOX_CONTROL_VALUE_ACCESSOR],
-  inputs: ['disabled', 'disableRipple', 'color'],
+  inputs: ['disabled', 'disableRipple', 'color', 'tabIndex'],
   encapsulation: ViewEncapsulation.None,
   preserveWhitespaces: false,
   changeDetection: ChangeDetectionStrategy.OnPush
 })
 export class MdCheckbox extends _MdCheckboxMixinBase implements ControlValueAccessor, AfterViewInit,
-    OnDestroy, CanColor, CanDisable, CanDisableRipple {
+    OnDestroy, CanColor, CanDisable, CanDisableRipple, HasTabIndex {
 
   /**
    * Attached to the aria-label attribute of the host element. In most cases, arial-labelledby will
@@ -156,9 +159,6 @@ export class MdCheckbox extends _MdCheckboxMixinBase implements ControlValueAcce
   /** Whether the label should appear after or before the checkbox. Defaults to 'after' */
   @Input() labelPosition: 'before' | 'after' = 'after';
 
-  /** Tabindex value that is passed to the underlying input element. */
-  @Input() tabIndex: number = 0;
-
   /** Name value will be applied to the input element if present */
   @Input() name: string | null = null;
 
@@ -199,8 +199,11 @@ export class MdCheckbox extends _MdCheckboxMixinBase implements ControlValueAcce
   constructor(renderer: Renderer2,
               elementRef: ElementRef,
               private _changeDetectorRef: ChangeDetectorRef,
-              private _focusMonitor: FocusMonitor) {
+              private _focusMonitor: FocusMonitor,
+              @Attribute('tabindex') tabIndex: string) {
     super(renderer, elementRef);
+
+    this.tabIndex = parseInt(tabIndex) || 0;
   }
 
   ngAfterViewInit() {