diff --git a/src/lib/paginator/paginator.scss b/src/lib/paginator/paginator.scss
index d547b5144cb..46fb48aaa94 100644
--- a/src/lib/paginator/paginator.scss
+++ b/src/lib/paginator/paginator.scss
@@ -32,6 +32,8 @@ $mat-paginator-button-increment-icon-margin: 16px;
 }
 
 .mat-paginator-page-size-select {
+  // Since the select won't have a placeholder we can remove the space that is reserved for it.
+  padding-top: 0;
   margin: $mat-paginator-selector-margin;
 
   .mat-select-trigger {