diff --git a/src/lib/grid-list/grid-list.spec.ts b/src/lib/grid-list/grid-list.spec.ts
index 88a0a80024c..de774580e13 100644
--- a/src/lib/grid-list/grid-list.spec.ts
+++ b/src/lib/grid-list/grid-list.spec.ts
@@ -389,6 +389,17 @@ describe('MatGridList', () => {
     expect(getStyle(tile, 'padding-top')).toBe('200px');
   });
 
+  it('should throw if an invalid value is set as the `rowHeight`', () => {
+    const fixture = createComponent(GridListWithUnspecifiedRowHeight);
+    const gridList = fixture.debugElement.query(By.directive(MatGridList));
+
+    expect(() => {
+      // Note the semicolon at the end which will be an invalid value on some browsers (see #13252).
+      gridList.componentInstance.rowHeight = '350px;';
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+    }).toThrowError(/^Invalid value/);
+  });
+
 });
 
 
diff --git a/src/lib/grid-list/tile-styler.ts b/src/lib/grid-list/tile-styler.ts
index 089b01f4a77..4d6ed2b978c 100644
--- a/src/lib/grid-list/tile-styler.ts
+++ b/src/lib/grid-list/tile-styler.ts
@@ -10,6 +10,12 @@ import {MatGridList} from './grid-list';
 import {MatGridTile} from './grid-tile';
 import {TileCoordinator} from './tile-coordinator';
 
+/**
+ * RegExp that can be used to check whether a value will
+ * be allowed inside a CSS `calc()` expression.
+ */
+const cssCalcAllowedValue = /^-?\d+((\.\d+)?[A-Za-z%$]?)+$/;
+
 /**
  * Sets the style properties for an individual tile, given the position calculated by the
  * Tile Coordinator.
@@ -162,6 +168,10 @@ export class FixedTileStyler extends TileStyler {
   init(gutterSize: string, tracker: TileCoordinator, cols: number, direction: string) {
     super.init(gutterSize, tracker, cols, direction);
     this.fixedRowHeight = normalizeUnits(this.fixedRowHeight);
+
+    if (!cssCalcAllowedValue.test(this.fixedRowHeight)) {
+      throw Error(`Invalid value "${this.fixedRowHeight}" set as rowHeight.`);
+    }
   }
 
   setRowStyles(tile: MatGridTile, rowIndex: number): void {