diff --git a/src/__tests__/__snapshots__/documenter.test.ts.snap b/src/__tests__/__snapshots__/documenter.test.ts.snap
index 582c79a176..ca304f69fc 100644
--- a/src/__tests__/__snapshots__/documenter.test.ts.snap
+++ b/src/__tests__/__snapshots__/documenter.test.ts.snap
@@ -12494,12 +12494,12 @@ scroll parent scrolls to reveal the first row of the table.",
 * \`allItemsSelectionLabel\` ((SelectionState) => string) - Specifies the alternative text for multi-selection column header.
 * \`selectionGroupLabel\` (string) - Specifies the alternative text for the whole selection and single-selection column header.
                                    It is prefixed to \`itemSelectionLabel\` and \`allItemsSelectionLabel\` when they are set.
-* \`tableLabel\` (string) - Provides an alternative text for the table. If you use a header for this table, you may reuse the string
-                          to provide a caption-like description. For example, tableLabel=Instances will be announced as 'Instances table'.
 You can use the first argument of type \`SelectionState\` to access the current selection
 state of the component (for example, the \`selectedItems\` list). The \`itemSelectionLabel\` for individual
 items also receives the corresponding  \`Item\` object. You can use the \`selectionGroupLabel\` to
 add a meaningful description to the whole selection.
+* \`tableLabel\` (string) - Provides an alternative text for the table. If you use a header for this table, you may reuse the string
+                          to provide a caption-like description. For example, tableLabel=Instances will be announced as 'Instances table'.
 * \`activateEditLabel\` (EditableColumnDefinition, Item) => string -
                      Specifies an alternative text for the edit button in editable cells.
 * \`cancelEditLabel\` (EditableColumnDefinition) => string -
diff --git a/src/cards/__tests__/cards.test.tsx b/src/cards/__tests__/cards.test.tsx
index 7aff0105b7..bf89142b9b 100644
--- a/src/cards/__tests__/cards.test.tsx
+++ b/src/cards/__tests__/cards.test.tsx
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 import * as React from 'react';
 import { render } from '@testing-library/react';
 import Cards, { CardsProps } from '../../../lib/components/cards';
+import Header from '../../../lib/components/header';
 import { CardsWrapper, PaginationWrapper } from '../../../lib/components/test-utils/dom';
 import { useMobile } from '../../../lib/components/internal/hooks/use-mobile';
 import liveRegionStyles from '../../../lib/components/internal/components/live-region/styles.css.js';
@@ -181,12 +182,20 @@ describe('Cards', () => {
       expect(wrapper.findHeader()?.getElement()).toHaveTextContent('abcedefg');
     });
 
-    it('maintains logical relationship between header and cards', () => {
+    it('maintains logical relationship between header and cards when header is a string', () => {
       wrapper = renderCards(<Cards<Item> cardDefinition={{}} items={defaultItems} header="abcedefg" />).wrapper;
       const cardsOrderedList = getCard(0).getElement().parentElement;
       expect(cardsOrderedList).toHaveAccessibleName('abcedefg');
     });
 
+    it('maintains logical relationship between header and cards when header is a component', () => {
+      wrapper = renderCards(
+        <Cards<Item> cardDefinition={{}} items={defaultItems} header={<Header>Cards header</Header>} />
+      ).wrapper;
+      const cardsOrderedList = getCard(0).getElement().parentElement;
+      expect(cardsOrderedList).toHaveAccessibleName('Cards header');
+    });
+
     it('allows label to be overridden', () => {
       wrapper = renderCards(
         <Cards<Item>
diff --git a/src/cards/index.tsx b/src/cards/index.tsx
index 2d19307339..5c75bb1128 100644
--- a/src/cards/index.tsx
+++ b/src/cards/index.tsx
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 // Copyright Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 import clsx from 'clsx';
-import React, { FocusEventHandler, useImperativeHandle, useRef } from 'react';
+import React, { FocusEventHandler, useCallback, useImperativeHandle, useRef } from 'react';
 import { CardsForwardRefType, CardsProps } from './interfaces';
 import styles from './styles.css.js';
 import { getCardsPerRow } from './cards-layout-helper';
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@ import stickyScrolling from '../table/sticky-scrolling';
 import useBaseComponent from '../internal/hooks/use-base-component';
 import { useVisualRefresh } from '../internal/hooks/use-visual-mode';
 import { useMergeRefs } from '../internal/hooks/use-merge-refs';
-import { useUniqueId } from '../internal/hooks/use-unique-id';
 import LiveRegion from '../internal/components/live-region';
 import useMouseDownTarget from '../internal/hooks/use-mouse-down-target';
 import { useMobile } from '../internal/hooks/use-mobile';
@@ -25,6 +24,7 @@ import { supportsStickyPosition } from '../internal/utils/dom';
 import { useInternalI18n } from '../i18n/context';
 import { useContainerQuery } from '@cloudscape-design/component-toolkit';
 import { AnalyticsFunnelSubStep } from '../internal/analytics/components/analytics-funnel';
+import { CollectionLabelContext } from '../internal/context/collection-label-context';
 import { LinkDefaultVariantContext } from '../internal/context/link-default-variant-context';
 
 export { CardsProps };
@@ -64,9 +64,12 @@ const Cards = React.forwardRef(function <T = any>(
   const isMobile = useMobile();
 
   const computedVariant = isRefresh ? variant : 'container';
-  const instanceUniqueId = useUniqueId('cards');
-  const cardsId = baseProps?.id || instanceUniqueId;
-  const cardsHeaderId = header ? `${cardsId}-header` : undefined;
+
+  const headerIdRef = useRef<string | undefined>(undefined);
+  const setHeaderRef = useCallback((id: string) => {
+    headerIdRef.current = id;
+  }, []);
+  const isLabelledByHeader = !ariaLabels?.cardsLabel && !!header;
 
   const [columns, measureRef] = useContainerQuery<number>(
     ({ contentBoxWidth }) => getCardsPerRow(contentBoxWidth, cardsPerRow),
@@ -141,7 +144,9 @@ const Cards = React.forwardRef(function <T = any>(
                     styles[`header-variant-${computedVariant}`]
                   )}
                 >
-                  <ToolsHeader header={header} filter={filter} pagination={pagination} preferences={preferences} />
+                  <CollectionLabelContext.Provider value={{ assignId: setHeaderRef }}>
+                    <ToolsHeader header={header} filter={filter} pagination={pagination} preferences={preferences} />
+                  </CollectionLabelContext.Provider>
                 </div>
               )
             }
@@ -152,7 +157,6 @@ const Cards = React.forwardRef(function <T = any>(
             __stickyHeader={stickyHeader}
             __stickyOffset={stickyHeaderVerticalOffset}
             __headerRef={headerRef}
-            __headerId={cardsHeaderId}
             __darkHeader={computedVariant === 'full-page'}
             __disableFooterDivider={true}
           >
@@ -177,7 +181,7 @@ const Cards = React.forwardRef(function <T = any>(
                   updateShiftToggle={updateShiftToggle}
                   onFocus={onCardFocus}
                   ariaLabel={ariaLabels?.cardsLabel}
-                  ariaLabelledby={ariaLabels?.cardsLabel ? undefined : cardsHeaderId}
+                  ariaLabelledby={isLabelledByHeader && headerIdRef.current ? headerIdRef.current : undefined}
                 />
               )}
             </div>
diff --git a/src/container/internal.tsx b/src/container/internal.tsx
index 3c483b65a9..0a2b6bd63c 100644
--- a/src/container/internal.tsx
+++ b/src/container/internal.tsx
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@ export interface InternalContainerProps extends Omit<ContainerProps, 'variant'>,
   __disableFooterPaddings?: boolean;
   __hiddenContent?: boolean;
   __headerRef?: React.RefObject<HTMLDivElement>;
-  __headerId?: string;
   __darkHeader?: boolean;
   __disableStickyMobile?: boolean;
   /**
@@ -51,7 +50,6 @@ export default function InternalContainer({
   __disableFooterPaddings = false,
   __hiddenContent = false,
   __headerRef,
-  __headerId,
   __darkHeader = false,
   __disableStickyMobile = true,
   ...restProps
@@ -77,7 +75,6 @@ export default function InternalContainer({
 
   const mergedRef = useMergeRefs(rootRef, subStepRef, __internalRootRef);
   const headerMergedRef = useMergeRefs(headerRef, overlapElement, __headerRef);
-  const headerIdProp = __headerId ? { id: __headerId } : {};
 
   /**
    * The visual refresh AppLayout component needs to know if a child component
@@ -139,7 +136,6 @@ export default function InternalContainer({
                 [styles['with-hidden-content']]: !children || __hiddenContent,
                 [styles['header-with-media']]: hasMedia,
               })}
-              {...headerIdProp}
               {...stickyStyles}
               ref={headerMergedRef}
             >
diff --git a/src/header/internal.tsx b/src/header/internal.tsx
index 21ea90159d..5c53c725fb 100644
--- a/src/header/internal.tsx
+++ b/src/header/internal.tsx
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import styles from './styles.css.js';
 import { SomeRequired } from '../internal/types';
 import { useMobile } from '../internal/hooks/use-mobile';
 import { InfoLinkLabelContext } from '../internal/context/info-link-label-context';
+import { CollectionLabelContext } from '../internal/context/collection-label-context';
 import { useUniqueId } from '../internal/hooks/use-unique-id';
 import { DATA_ATTR_FUNNEL_KEY, FUNNEL_KEY_SUBSTEP_NAME } from '../internal/analytics/selectors';
 
@@ -35,7 +36,11 @@ export default function InternalHeader({
   const { isStuck } = useContext(StickyHeaderContext);
   const baseProps = getBaseProps(restProps);
   const isRefresh = useVisualRefresh();
+  const assignHeaderId = useContext(CollectionLabelContext).assignId;
   const headingId = useUniqueId('heading');
+  if (assignHeaderId !== undefined) {
+    assignHeaderId(headingId);
+  }
   // If is mobile there is no need to have the dynamic variant because it's scrolled out of view
   const dynamicVariant = !isMobile && isStuck ? 'h2' : 'h1';
   const variantOverride = variant === 'awsui-h1-sticky' ? (isRefresh ? dynamicVariant : 'h2') : variant;
diff --git a/src/internal/context/collection-label-context.ts b/src/internal/context/collection-label-context.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b7e973e33f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/internal/context/collection-label-context.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+// Copyright Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+import { createContext } from 'react';
+
+interface CollectionLabellingInterface {
+  assignId?: (id: string) => void;
+}
+
+export const CollectionLabelContext = createContext<CollectionLabellingInterface>({});
diff --git a/src/table/__tests__/a11y.test.tsx b/src/table/__tests__/a11y.test.tsx
index 533f7d3fda..3773847f5c 100644
--- a/src/table/__tests__/a11y.test.tsx
+++ b/src/table/__tests__/a11y.test.tsx
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import React from 'react';
 
 import createWrapper from '../../../lib/components/test-utils/dom';
 import Table, { TableProps } from '../../../lib/components/table';
+import Header from '../../../lib/components/header';
 import { render } from '@testing-library/react';
 import liveRegionStyles from '../../../lib/components/internal/components/live-region/styles.css.js';
 
@@ -68,6 +69,21 @@ describe('labels', () => {
     expect(wrapper.find('[role=table]')!.getElement().getAttribute('aria-label')).toEqual(tableLabel);
   });
 
+  test('automatically labels table with header if provided', () => {
+    const wrapper = renderTableWrapper({
+      header: <Header counter="(10)">Labelled table</Header>,
+    });
+    expect(wrapper.find('[role=table]')!.getElement()).toHaveAccessibleName('Labelled table');
+  });
+
+  test('aria-label has priority over auto-labelling', () => {
+    const wrapper = renderTableWrapper({
+      header: <Header>Labelled table</Header>,
+      ariaLabels: { itemSelectionLabel: () => '', selectionGroupLabel: '', tableLabel },
+    });
+    expect(wrapper.find('[role=table]')!.getElement()).toHaveAccessibleName(tableLabel);
+  });
+
   describe('rows', () => {
     test('sets aria-rowcount on table', () => {
       const wrapper = renderTableWrapper({
diff --git a/src/table/interfaces.tsx b/src/table/interfaces.tsx
index 8f158f48ce..95dab4b5e7 100644
--- a/src/table/interfaces.tsx
+++ b/src/table/interfaces.tsx
@@ -161,13 +161,12 @@ export interface TableProps<T = any> extends BaseComponentProps {
    * * `allItemsSelectionLabel` ((SelectionState) => string) - Specifies the alternative text for multi-selection column header.
    * * `selectionGroupLabel` (string) - Specifies the alternative text for the whole selection and single-selection column header.
    *                                    It is prefixed to `itemSelectionLabel` and `allItemsSelectionLabel` when they are set.
-   * * `tableLabel` (string) - Provides an alternative text for the table. If you use a header for this table, you may reuse the string
-   *                           to provide a caption-like description. For example, tableLabel=Instances will be announced as 'Instances table'.
    * You can use the first argument of type `SelectionState` to access the current selection
    * state of the component (for example, the `selectedItems` list). The `itemSelectionLabel` for individual
    * items also receives the corresponding  `Item` object. You can use the `selectionGroupLabel` to
    * add a meaningful description to the whole selection.
-   *
+   * * `tableLabel` (string) - Provides an alternative text for the table. If you use a header for this table, you may reuse the string
+   *                           to provide a caption-like description. For example, tableLabel=Instances will be announced as 'Instances table'.
    * * `activateEditLabel` (EditableColumnDefinition, Item) => string -
    *                      Specifies an alternative text for the edit button in editable cells.
    * * `cancelEditLabel` (EditableColumnDefinition) => string -
diff --git a/src/table/internal.tsx b/src/table/internal.tsx
index d8de7db369..fa2c67a818 100644
--- a/src/table/internal.tsx
+++ b/src/table/internal.tsx
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 // Copyright Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 import clsx from 'clsx';
-import React, { useImperativeHandle, useRef } from 'react';
+import React, { useCallback, useImperativeHandle, useRef } from 'react';
 import { TableForwardRefType, TableProps } from './interfaces';
 import { getVisualContextClassname } from '../internal/components/visual-context';
 import InternalContainer from '../container/internal';
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ import { useContainerQuery } from '@cloudscape-design/component-toolkit';
 import { getTableRoleProps, getTableRowRoleProps } from './table-role';
 import { useCellEditing } from './use-cell-editing';
 import { LinkDefaultVariantContext } from '../internal/context/link-default-variant-context';
+import { CollectionLabelContext } from '../internal/context/collection-label-context';
 
 const SELECTION_COLUMN_WIDTH = 54;
 const selectionColumnId = Symbol('selection-column-id');
@@ -159,6 +160,12 @@ const InternalTable = React.forwardRef(
     const hasFooterPagination = isMobile && variant === 'full-page' && !!pagination;
     const hasFooter = !!footer || hasFooterPagination;
 
+    const headerIdRef = useRef<string | undefined>(undefined);
+    const isLabelledByHeader = !ariaLabels?.tableLabel && !!header;
+    const setHeaderRef = useCallback((id: string) => {
+      headerIdRef.current = id;
+    }, []);
+
     const visibleColumnWidthsWithSelection: ColumnWidthDefinition[] = [];
     const visibleColumnIdsWithSelection: PropertyKey[] = [];
     if (hasSelection) {
@@ -252,7 +259,14 @@ const InternalTable = React.forwardRef(
                       ref={toolsHeaderWrapper}
                       className={clsx(styles['header-controls'], styles[`variant-${computedVariant}`])}
                     >
-                      <ToolsHeader header={header} filter={filter} pagination={pagination} preferences={preferences} />
+                      <CollectionLabelContext.Provider value={{ assignId: setHeaderRef }}>
+                        <ToolsHeader
+                          header={header}
+                          filter={filter}
+                          pagination={pagination}
+                          preferences={preferences}
+                        />
+                      </CollectionLabelContext.Provider>
                     </div>
                   </div>
                 )}
@@ -318,7 +332,12 @@ const InternalTable = React.forwardRef(
                   resizableColumns && styles['table-layout-fixed'],
                   contentDensity === 'compact' && getVisualContextClassname('compact-table')
                 )}
-                {...getTableRoleProps({ tableRole, totalItemsCount, ariaLabel: ariaLabels?.tableLabel })}
+                {...getTableRoleProps({
+                  tableRole,
+                  totalItemsCount,
+                  ariaLabel: ariaLabels?.tableLabel,
+                  ariaLabelledBy: isLabelledByHeader && headerIdRef.current ? headerIdRef.current : undefined,
+                })}
               >
                 <Thead
                   ref={theadRef}
diff --git a/src/table/table-role/table-role-helper.ts b/src/table/table-role/table-role-helper.ts
index 0091d272aa..ef7290a8c5 100644
--- a/src/table/table-role/table-role-helper.ts
+++ b/src/table/table-role/table-role-helper.ts
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ export type TableRole = 'table' | 'grid';
 export function getTableRoleProps(options: {
   tableRole: TableRole;
   ariaLabel?: string;
+  ariaLabelledBy?: string;
   totalItemsCount?: number;
 }): React.TableHTMLAttributes<HTMLTableElement> {
   const nativeProps: React.TableHTMLAttributes<HTMLTableElement> = {};
@@ -28,6 +29,7 @@ export function getTableRoleProps(options: {
   nativeProps.role = options.tableRole;
 
   nativeProps['aria-label'] = options.ariaLabel;
+  nativeProps['aria-labelledby'] = options.ariaLabelledBy;
 
   // Incrementing the total count by one to account for the header row.
   nativeProps['aria-rowcount'] = options.totalItemsCount ? options.totalItemsCount + 1 : -1;
diff --git a/src/table/tools-header.tsx b/src/table/tools-header.tsx
index eaa7436d50..86dcebd6ad 100644
--- a/src/table/tools-header.tsx
+++ b/src/table/tools-header.tsx
@@ -1,9 +1,11 @@
 // Copyright Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 import clsx from 'clsx';
-import React from 'react';
+import React, { useContext } from 'react';
 import { useContainerBreakpoints } from '../internal/hooks/container-queries';
 import styles from './styles.css.js';
+import { CollectionLabelContext } from '../internal/context/collection-label-context';
+import { useUniqueId } from '../internal/hooks/use-unique-id';
 
 interface ToolsHeaderProps {
   header: React.ReactNode;
@@ -14,11 +16,17 @@ interface ToolsHeaderProps {
 
 export default function ToolsHeader({ header, filter, pagination, preferences }: ToolsHeaderProps) {
   const [breakpoint, ref] = useContainerBreakpoints(['xs']);
+  const isHeaderString = typeof header === 'string';
+  const assignHeaderId = useContext(CollectionLabelContext).assignId;
+  const headingId = useUniqueId('heading');
+  if (assignHeaderId !== undefined && isHeaderString) {
+    assignHeaderId(headingId);
+  }
   const isSmall = breakpoint === 'default';
   const hasTools = filter || pagination || preferences;
   return (
     <>
-      {header}
+      {isHeaderString ? <span id={headingId}>{header}</span> : header}
       {hasTools && (
         <div ref={ref} className={clsx(styles.tools, isSmall && styles['tools-small'])}>
           {filter && <div className={styles['tools-filtering']}>{filter}</div>}