diff --git a/src/material/card/_card-theme.scss b/src/material/card/_card-theme.scss
index 8b9b320c1b2a..1af5601a9eee 100644
--- a/src/material/card/_card-theme.scss
+++ b/src/material/card/_card-theme.scss
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 @use '../core/theming/theming';
 @use '../core/mdc-helpers/mdc-helpers';
-@use '../core/style/private';
 @use '../core/typography/typography';
 @use '@material/card/elevated-card-theme' as mdc-elevated-card-theme;
 @use '@material/card/outlined-card-theme' as mdc-outlined-card-theme;
@@ -15,18 +14,12 @@
 
   @include mdc-helpers.using-mdc-theme($config) {
     .mat-mdc-card {
-      // MDC's theme has `container-elevation` and `container-shadow-color` tokens, but we can't
-      // use them because they output under a `.mdc-card` selector whereas the rest of the theme
-      // isn't under any selector. Even if the mixin is pulled out of the selector, it throws a
-      // different error.
-      @include private.private-theme-elevation(1, $config);
       @include mdc-elevated-card-theme.theme((
         container-color: mdc-theme-color.prop-value(surface),
       ));
     }
 
     .mat-mdc-card-outlined {
-      @include private.private-theme-elevation(0, $config);
       @include mdc-outlined-card-theme.theme((
         outline-color: color.mix(mdc-theme-color.prop-value(on-surface),
           mdc-theme-color.prop-value(surface), 12%)
diff --git a/src/material/card/card.scss b/src/material/card/card.scss
index a3c71efd30e7..ba5b9bf5e798 100644
--- a/src/material/card/card.scss
+++ b/src/material/card/card.scss
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 @use '@material/card/elevated-card-theme' as mdc-elevated-card-theme;
 @use '@material/card/outlined-card-theme' as mdc-outlined-card-theme;
 @use '../core/mdc-helpers/mdc-helpers';
+@use '../core/style/elevation';
 
 // TODO(jelbourn): move header and title-group styles to their own files.
 
@@ -17,7 +18,15 @@ $mat-card-default-padding: 16px !default;
   @include mdc-card.static-styles($query: mdc-helpers.$mdc-base-styles-query);
 }
 
-.mat-mdc-card {
+// It's very common for users to override the elevation of a card. We output under an element
+// selector to make it as easy as possible. We can't use the `overridable-elevation` mixin,
+// because it increases the specificity too much.
+mat-card {
+  // MDC's theme has `container-elevation` and `container-shadow-color` tokens, but we can't
+  // use them because they output under a `.mdc-card` selector whereas the rest of the theme
+  // isn't under any selector. Even if the mixin is pulled out of the selector, it throws a
+  // different error.
+  @include elevation.elevation(1);
   position: relative;
 
   @include mdc-helpers.disable-mdc-fallback-declarations {
@@ -29,6 +38,8 @@ $mat-card-default-padding: 16px !default;
 }
 
 .mat-mdc-card-outlined {
+  box-shadow: none;
+
   @include mdc-helpers.disable-mdc-fallback-declarations {
     @include mdc-outlined-card-theme.theme-styles((
       outline-color: transparent,