diff --git a/packages/netlify-cms-widget-list/package.json b/packages/netlify-cms-widget-list/package.json
index 606626ee..4fa6d77b 100644
--- a/packages/netlify-cms-widget-list/package.json
+++ b/packages/netlify-cms-widget-list/package.json
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@
     "lodash": "^4.17.11",
     "netlify-cms-ui-default": "^2.6.0",
     "netlify-cms-widget-object": "^2.2.0",
+    "netlify-cms-lib-widgets": "^1.0.0",
     "prop-types": "^15.7.2",
     "react": "^16.8.4",
     "react-immutable-proptypes": "^2.1.0"
diff --git a/packages/netlify-cms-widget-list/src/ListControl.js b/packages/netlify-cms-widget-list/src/ListControl.js
index ebcbe7f5..85d08875 100644
--- a/packages/netlify-cms-widget-list/src/ListControl.js
+++ b/packages/netlify-cms-widget-list/src/ListControl.js
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import {
   getErrorMessageForTypedFieldAndValue,
 } from './typedListHelpers';
 import { ListItemTopBar, ObjectWidgetTopBar, colors, lengths } from 'netlify-cms-ui-default';
+import { stringTemplate } from 'netlify-cms-lib-widgets';
 
 function valueToString(value) {
   return value ? value.join(',').replace(/,([^\s]|$)/g, ', $1') : '';
@@ -71,6 +72,14 @@ const valueTypes = {
   MIXED: 'MIXED',
 };
 
+const handleSummary = (summary, entry, label, item) => {
+  const data = stringTemplate.addFileTemplateFields(
+    entry.get('path'),
+    item.set('fields.label', label),
+  );
+  return stringTemplate.compileStringTemplate(summary, null, '', data);
+};
+
 export default class ListControl extends React.Component {
   validations = [];
 
@@ -96,6 +105,7 @@ export default class ListControl extends React.Component {
     resolveWidget: PropTypes.func.isRequired,
     clearFieldErrors: PropTypes.func.isRequired,
     fieldsErrors: ImmutablePropTypes.map.isRequired,
+    entry: ImmutablePropTypes.map.isRequired,
   };
 
   static defaultProps = {
@@ -317,17 +327,35 @@ export default class ListControl extends React.Component {
   };
 
   objectLabel(item) {
-    const { field } = this.props;
-    if (this.getValueType() === valueTypes.MIXED) {
-      return getTypedFieldForValue(field, item).get('label', field.get('name'));
+    const { field, entry } = this.props;
+    const valueType = this.getValueType();
+    switch (valueType) {
+      case valueTypes.MIXED: {
+        const itemType = getTypedFieldForValue(field, item);
+        const label = itemType.get('label', itemType.get('name'));
+        // each type can have its own summary, but default to the list summary if exists
+        const summary = itemType.get('summary', field.get('summary'));
+        const labelReturn = summary ? handleSummary(summary, entry, label, item) : label;
+        return labelReturn;
+      }
+      case valueTypes.SINGLE: {
+        const singleField = field.get('field');
+        const label = singleField.get('label', singleField.get('name'));
+        const summary = field.get('summary');
+        const data = fromJS({ [singleField.get('name')]: item });
+        const labelReturn = summary ? handleSummary(summary, entry, label, data) : label;
+        return labelReturn;
+      }
+      case valueTypes.MULTIPLE: {
+        const multiFields = field.get('fields');
+        const labelField = multiFields && multiFields.first();
+        const value = item.get(labelField.get('name'));
+        const summary = field.get('summary');
+        const labelReturn = summary ? handleSummary(summary, entry, value, item) : value;
+        return (labelReturn || `No ${labelField.get('name')}`).toString();
+      }
     }
-    const multiFields = field.get('fields');
-    const singleField = field.get('field');
-    const labelField = (multiFields && multiFields.first()) || singleField;
-    const value = multiFields
-      ? item.get(multiFields.first().get('name'))
-      : singleField.get('label');
-    return (value || `No ${labelField.get('name')}`).toString();
+    return '';
   }
 
   onSortEnd = ({ oldIndex, newIndex }) => {
diff --git a/packages/netlify-cms-widget-list/src/__tests__/ListControl.spec.js b/packages/netlify-cms-widget-list/src/__tests__/ListControl.spec.js
index 606a5c19..2a9ae0a6 100644
--- a/packages/netlify-cms-widget-list/src/__tests__/ListControl.spec.js
+++ b/packages/netlify-cms-widget-list/src/__tests__/ListControl.spec.js
@@ -48,6 +48,9 @@ describe('ListControl', () => {
     resolveWidget: jest.fn(),
     clearFieldErrors: jest.fn(),
     fieldsErrors: fromJS({}),
+    entry: fromJS({
+      path: 'posts/index.md',
+    }),
   };
 
   beforeEach(() => {
@@ -270,4 +273,185 @@ describe('ListControl', () => {
     expect(getByTestId('object-control-0')).toHaveAttribute('collapsed', 'false');
     expect(getByTestId('object-control-1')).toHaveAttribute('collapsed', 'true');
   });
+
+  it('should use widget name when no summary or label are configured for mixed types', () => {
+    const field = fromJS({
+      name: 'list',
+      label: 'List',
+      collapsed: true,
+      types: [
+        {
+          name: 'type_1_object',
+          widget: 'object',
+          fields: [
+            { label: 'First Name', name: 'first_name', widget: 'string' },
+            { label: 'Last Name', name: 'last_name', widget: 'string' },
+          ],
+        },
+      ],
+    });
+
+    const { getByText } = render(
+      <ListControl
+        {...props}
+        field={field}
+        value={fromJS([{ first_name: 'hello', last_name: 'world', type: 'type_1_object' }])}
+      />,
+    );
+    expect(getByText('type_1_object')).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
+  it('should use label when no summary is configured for mixed types', () => {
+    const field = fromJS({
+      name: 'list',
+      label: 'List',
+      collapsed: true,
+      types: [
+        {
+          label: 'Type 1 Object',
+          name: 'type_1_object',
+          widget: 'object',
+          fields: [
+            { label: 'First Name', name: 'first_name', widget: 'string' },
+            { label: 'Last Name', name: 'last_name', widget: 'string' },
+          ],
+        },
+      ],
+    });
+
+    const { getByText } = render(
+      <ListControl
+        {...props}
+        field={field}
+        value={fromJS([{ first_name: 'hello', last_name: 'world', type: 'type_1_object' }])}
+      />,
+    );
+    expect(getByText('Type 1 Object')).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
+  it('should use summary when configured for mixed types', () => {
+    const field = fromJS({
+      name: 'list',
+      label: 'List',
+      collapsed: true,
+      types: [
+        {
+          label: 'Type 1 Object',
+          name: 'type_1_object',
+          summary: '{{first_name}} - {{last_name}} - {{filename}}.{{extension}}',
+          widget: 'object',
+          fields: [
+            { label: 'First Name', name: 'first_name', widget: 'string' },
+            { label: 'Last Name', name: 'last_name', widget: 'string' },
+          ],
+        },
+      ],
+    });
+
+    const { getByText } = render(
+      <ListControl
+        {...props}
+        field={field}
+        value={fromJS([{ first_name: 'hello', last_name: 'world', type: 'type_1_object' }])}
+      />,
+    );
+    expect(getByText('hello - world - index.md')).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
+  it('should use widget name when no summary or label are configured for a single field', () => {
+    const field = fromJS({
+      name: 'list',
+      label: 'List',
+      collapsed: true,
+      field: { name: 'name', widget: 'string' },
+    });
+
+    const { getByText } = render(<ListControl {...props} field={field} value={fromJS(['Name'])} />);
+    expect(getByText('name')).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
+  it('should use label when no summary is configured for a single field', () => {
+    const field = fromJS({
+      name: 'list',
+      label: 'List',
+      collapsed: true,
+      field: { name: 'name', widget: 'string', label: 'Name' },
+    });
+
+    const { getByText } = render(<ListControl {...props} field={field} value={fromJS(['Name'])} />);
+    expect(getByText('Name')).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
+  it('should use summary when configured for a single field', () => {
+    const field = fromJS({
+      name: 'list',
+      label: 'List',
+      collapsed: true,
+      summary: 'Name - {{fields.name}}',
+      field: { name: 'name', widget: 'string', label: 'Name' },
+    });
+
+    const { getByText } = render(<ListControl {...props} field={field} value={fromJS(['Name'])} />);
+    expect(getByText('Name - Name')).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
+  it('should use first field value when no summary or label are configured for multiple fields', () => {
+    const field = fromJS({
+      name: 'list',
+      label: 'List',
+      collapsed: true,
+      fields: [
+        { name: 'first_name', widget: 'string', label: 'First Name' },
+        { name: 'last_name', widget: 'string', label: 'Last Name' },
+      ],
+    });
+
+    const { getByText } = render(
+      <ListControl
+        {...props}
+        field={field}
+        value={fromJS([{ first_name: 'hello', last_name: 'world' }])}
+      />,
+    );
+    expect(getByText('hello')).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
+  it('should show `No <field>` when value is missing from first field for multiple fields', () => {
+    const field = fromJS({
+      name: 'list',
+      label: 'List',
+      collapsed: true,
+      fields: [
+        { name: 'first_name', widget: 'string', label: 'First Name' },
+        { name: 'last_name', widget: 'string', label: 'Last Name' },
+      ],
+    });
+
+    const { getByText } = render(
+      <ListControl {...props} field={field} value={fromJS([{ last_name: 'world' }])} />,
+    );
+    expect(getByText('No first_name')).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
+  it('should use summary when configured for multiple fields', () => {
+    const field = fromJS({
+      name: 'list',
+      label: 'List',
+      collapsed: true,
+      summary: '{{first_name}} - {{last_name}} - {{filename}}.{{extension}}',
+      fields: [
+        { name: 'first_name', widget: 'string', label: 'First Name' },
+        { name: 'last_name', widget: 'string', label: 'Last Name' },
+      ],
+    });
+
+    const { getByText } = render(
+      <ListControl
+        {...props}
+        field={field}
+        value={fromJS([{ first_name: 'hello', last_name: 'world' }])}
+      />,
+    );
+    expect(getByText('hello - world - index.md')).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
 });
diff --git a/website/content/docs/beta-features.md b/website/content/docs/beta-features.md
index 3d9c449c..4ba88dc5 100644
--- a/website/content/docs/beta-features.md
+++ b/website/content/docs/beta-features.md
@@ -163,6 +163,7 @@ To use variable types in the list widget, update your field configuration as fol
 
 - `types`: a nested list of object widgets. All widgets must be of type `object`. Every object widget may define different set of fields.
 - `typeKey`: the name of the field that will be added to every item in list representing the name of the object widget that item belongs to. Ignored if `types` is not defined. Default is `type`.
+- `summary`: allows customization of a collapsed list item object in a similar way to a [collection summary](/docs/configuration-options/?#summary)
 
 ### Example Configuration
 
@@ -177,6 +178,7 @@ either a "carousel" or a "spotlight". Each type has a unique name and set of fie
     - label: 'Carousel'
       name: 'carousel'
       widget: object
+      summary: '{{fields.header}}'
       fields:
         - { label: Header, name: header, widget: string, default: 'Image Gallery' }
         - { label: Template, name: template, widget: string, default: 'carousel.html' }
diff --git a/website/content/docs/widgets/list.md b/website/content/docs/widgets/list.md
index 9e733538..8dc64832 100644
--- a/website/content/docs/widgets/list.md
+++ b/website/content/docs/widgets/list.md
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ The list widget allows you to create a repeatable item in the UI which saves as
   - `default`: if `fields` is specified, declare defaults on the child widgets; if not, you may specify a list of strings to populate the text field
   - `allow_add`: if added and labeled `false`, button to add additional widgets disappears
   - `collapsed`: if added and labeled `false`, the list widget's content does not collapse by default
+  - `summary`: allows customization of a collapsed list item object in a similar way to a [collection summary](/docs/configuration-options/?#summary)
   - `field`: a single widget field to be repeated
   - `fields`: a nested list of multiple widget fields to be included in each repeatable iteration
 - **Example** (`field`/`fields` not specified):
@@ -34,6 +35,7 @@ The list widget allows you to create a repeatable item in the UI which saves as
     - label: "Gallery"
       name: "galleryImages"
       widget: "list"
+      summary: '{{fields.image}}'
       field: {label: Image, name: image, widget: image}
     ```
 - **Example** (with `fields`):
@@ -41,6 +43,7 @@ The list widget allows you to create a repeatable item in the UI which saves as
     - label: "Testimonials"
       name: "testimonials"
       widget: "list"
+      summary: '{{fields.quote}} - {{fields.author.name}}'
       fields:
         - {label: Quote, name: quote, widget: string, default: "Everything is awesome!"}
         - label: Author