diff --git a/src-docs/src/views/flex/flex_example.js b/src-docs/src/views/flex/flex_example.js
index f395d74bd18..9fd7a0e7c83 100644
--- a/src-docs/src/views/flex/flex_example.js
+++ b/src-docs/src/views/flex/flex_example.js
@@ -246,7 +246,7 @@ export const FlexExample = {
       ),
     },
     {
-      title: 'Override output component type',
+      title: 'Spans instead of divs',
       source: [
         {
           type: GuideSectionTypes.JS,
@@ -255,12 +255,9 @@ export const FlexExample = {
       ],
       text: (
         <p>
-          Pass the <EuiCode>component</EuiCode> property to{' '}
+          Specify <EuiCode>component=&ldquo;span&rdquo;</EuiCode> on{' '}
           <strong>EuiFlexGroup</strong> and/or <strong>EuiFlexItem</strong> to
-          change the rendered component type from the default{' '}
-          <EuiCode>div</EuiCode>. It can be any valid React component type like
-          a tag name string such as <EuiCode>div</EuiCode>
-          or <EuiCode>span</EuiCode> or a React component.
+          change from the default <EuiCode>div</EuiCode>.
         </p>
       ),
       snippet: componentSpanSnippet,
diff --git a/src/components/flex/flex_group.test.tsx b/src/components/flex/flex_group.test.tsx
index fdb16b171d9..f9a252ca418 100644
--- a/src/components/flex/flex_group.test.tsx
+++ b/src/components/flex/flex_group.test.tsx
@@ -6,9 +6,12 @@
  * Side Public License, v 1.
  */
 
-import React, { JSX } from 'react';
+import React from 'react';
 import { requiredProps } from '../../test';
-import { shouldRenderCustomStyles } from '../../test/internal';
+import {
+  shouldRenderCustomStyles,
+  testOnReactVersion,
+} from '../../test/internal';
 import { render } from '../../test/rtl';
 
 import {
@@ -17,6 +20,7 @@ import {
   ALIGN_ITEMS,
   JUSTIFY_CONTENTS,
   DIRECTIONS,
+  COMPONENT_TYPES,
 } from './flex_group';
 
 describe('EuiFlexGroup', () => {
@@ -94,21 +98,25 @@ describe('EuiFlexGroup', () => {
     });
 
     describe('component', () => {
-      ['div', 'span'].forEach((value) => {
+      COMPONENT_TYPES.forEach((value) => {
         test(`${value} is rendered`, () => {
-          const { container } = render(
-            <EuiFlexGroup component={value as keyof JSX.IntrinsicElements} />
-          );
+          const { container } = render(<EuiFlexGroup component={value} />);
 
           expect(container.firstChild!.nodeName).toEqual(value.toUpperCase());
         });
       });
 
-      test('custom component is rendered', () => {
-        const component = () => <span>Custom component test</span>;
-        const { getByText } = render(<EuiFlexGroup component={component} />);
-        expect(getByText('Custom component test')).toBeInTheDocument();
-      });
+      // React 18 throws a false error on test unmount for components w/ ref callbacks
+      // that throw in a `useEffect`. Note: This only affects the test env, not prod
+      // @see https://github.com/facebook/react/issues/25675#issuecomment-1363957941
+      // TODO: Remove `testOnReactVersion` once the above bug is fixed
+      testOnReactVersion(['16', '17'])(
+        `invalid component types throw an error`,
+        () => {
+          // @ts-expect-error intentionally passing an invalid value
+          expect(() => render(<EuiFlexGroup component="h2" />)).toThrow();
+        }
+      );
     });
   });
 });
diff --git a/src/components/flex/flex_group.tsx b/src/components/flex/flex_group.tsx
index 41311af37a5..f91effc987a 100644
--- a/src/components/flex/flex_group.tsx
+++ b/src/components/flex/flex_group.tsx
@@ -6,15 +6,7 @@
  * Side Public License, v 1.
  */
 
-import React, {
-  ComponentPropsWithoutRef,
-  ComponentType,
-  ElementType,
-  ForwardedRef,
-  forwardRef,
-  FunctionComponent,
-  Ref,
-} from 'react';
+import React, { HTMLAttributes, Ref, forwardRef, useEffect } from 'react';
 import classNames from 'classnames';
 import { CommonProps } from '../common';
 
@@ -51,80 +43,80 @@ export const DIRECTIONS = [
 ] as const;
 type FlexGroupDirection = (typeof DIRECTIONS)[number];
 
-type ComponentPropType = ElementType<CommonProps>;
+export const COMPONENT_TYPES = ['div', 'span'] as const;
+type FlexGroupComponentType = (typeof COMPONENT_TYPES)[number];
 
-export type EuiFlexGroupProps<TComponent extends ComponentPropType = 'div'> =
-  ComponentPropsWithoutRef<TComponent> & {
-    alignItems?: FlexGroupAlignItems;
-    /**
-     * Customize the component type that is rendered.
-     *
-     * It can be any valid React component type like a tag name string
-     * such as `'div'` or `'span'`, a React component (a function, a class,
-     * or an exotic component like `memo()`).
-     *
-     * `<EuiFlexGroup>` accepts and forwards all extra props to the custom
-     * component.
-     *
-     * @example
-     * // Renders a <button> element
-     * <EuiFlexGroup component="button">
-     *   Submit form
-     * </EuiFlexGroup>
-     * @default "div"
-     */
-    component?: TComponent;
-    direction?: FlexGroupDirection;
-    gutterSize?: EuiFlexGroupGutterSize;
-    justifyContent?: FlexGroupJustifyContent;
-    responsive?: boolean;
-    wrap?: boolean;
-  };
+export interface EuiFlexGroupProps
+  extends CommonProps,
+    HTMLAttributes<HTMLDivElement | HTMLSpanElement> {
+  alignItems?: FlexGroupAlignItems;
+  component?: FlexGroupComponentType;
+  direction?: FlexGroupDirection;
+  gutterSize?: EuiFlexGroupGutterSize;
+  justifyContent?: FlexGroupJustifyContent;
+  responsive?: boolean;
+  wrap?: boolean;
+}
 
-const EuiFlexGroupInternal = <TComponent extends ComponentPropType>(
-  {
-    className,
-    component = 'div' as TComponent,
-    gutterSize = 'l',
-    alignItems = 'stretch',
-    responsive = true,
-    justifyContent = 'flexStart',
-    direction = 'row',
-    wrap = false,
-    ...rest
-  }: EuiFlexGroupProps<TComponent>,
-  ref: ForwardedRef<TComponent>
-) => {
-  const styles = useEuiMemoizedStyles(euiFlexGroupStyles);
-  const cssStyles = [
-    styles.euiFlexGroup,
-    responsive && !direction.includes('column') && styles.responsive,
-    wrap && styles.wrap,
-    styles.gutterSizes[gutterSize],
-    styles.justifyContent[justifyContent],
-    styles.alignItems[alignItems],
-    styles.direction[direction],
-  ];
-
-  const classes = classNames('euiFlexGroup', className);
+export const EuiFlexGroup = forwardRef<
+  HTMLDivElement | HTMLSpanElement,
+  EuiFlexGroupProps
+>(
+  (
+    {
+      children,
+      className,
+      gutterSize = 'l',
+      alignItems = 'stretch',
+      responsive = true,
+      justifyContent = 'flexStart',
+      direction = 'row',
+      wrap = false,
+      component = 'div',
+      ...rest
+    },
+    ref: Ref<HTMLDivElement> | Ref<HTMLSpanElement>
+  ) => {
+    const styles = useEuiMemoizedStyles(euiFlexGroupStyles);
+    const cssStyles = [
+      styles.euiFlexGroup,
+      responsive && !direction.includes('column') && styles.responsive,
+      wrap && styles.wrap,
+      styles.gutterSizes[gutterSize],
+      styles.justifyContent[justifyContent],
+      styles.alignItems[alignItems],
+      styles.direction[direction],
+    ];
 
-  // Cast the resolved component prop type to ComponentType to help TS
-  // process multiple infers and the overall type complexity.
-  // This might not be needed in TypeScript 5
-  const Component = component as ComponentType<CommonProps & typeof rest>;
+    const classes = classNames('euiFlexGroup', className);
 
-  return <Component {...rest} ref={ref} className={classes} css={cssStyles} />;
-};
+    useEffect(() => {
+      if (!COMPONENT_TYPES.includes(component)) {
+        throw new Error(
+          `${component} is not a valid element type. Use \`div\` or \`span\`.`
+        );
+      }
+    }, [component]);
 
-// Cast forwardRef return type to work with the generic TComponent type
-// and not fallback to implicit any typing
-export const EuiFlexGroup = forwardRef(EuiFlexGroupInternal) as <
-  TComponent extends ComponentPropType
->(
-  props: EuiFlexGroupProps<TComponent> & {
-    ref?: Ref<typeof EuiFlexGroupInternal>;
+    return component === 'span' ? (
+      <span
+        css={cssStyles}
+        className={classes}
+        ref={ref as Ref<HTMLSpanElement>}
+        {...rest}
+      >
+        {children}
+      </span>
+    ) : (
+      <div
+        css={cssStyles}
+        className={classes}
+        ref={ref as Ref<HTMLDivElement>}
+        {...rest}
+      >
+        {children}
+      </div>
+    );
   }
-) => ReturnType<typeof EuiFlexGroupInternal>;
-
-// Cast is required here because of the cast above
-(EuiFlexGroup as FunctionComponent).displayName = 'EuiFlexGroup';
+);
+EuiFlexGroup.displayName = 'EuiFlexGroup';
diff --git a/src/components/flex/flex_item.test.tsx b/src/components/flex/flex_item.test.tsx
index c0829ae1561..805fb541b9e 100644
--- a/src/components/flex/flex_item.test.tsx
+++ b/src/components/flex/flex_item.test.tsx
@@ -6,16 +6,13 @@
  * Side Public License, v 1.
  */
 
-import React, { JSX } from 'react';
+import React from 'react';
 import {
   requiredProps,
   startThrowingReactWarnings,
   stopThrowingReactWarnings,
 } from '../../test';
-import {
-  shouldRenderCustomStyles,
-  testOnReactVersion,
-} from '../../test/internal';
+import { shouldRenderCustomStyles } from '../../test/internal';
 import { render } from '../../test/rtl';
 
 import { EuiFlexItem } from './flex_item';
@@ -32,23 +29,10 @@ describe('EuiFlexItem', () => {
     expect(container.firstChild).toMatchSnapshot();
   });
 
-  describe('component', () => {
-    ['div', 'span'].forEach((value) => {
-      test(`${value} is rendered`, () => {
-        const { container } = render(
-          <EuiFlexItem component={value as keyof JSX.IntrinsicElements} />
-        );
-
-        expect(container.firstChild?.nodeName).toEqual(value.toUpperCase());
-      });
-    });
+  it('renders as the passed component element', () => {
+    const { container } = render(<EuiFlexItem component="span" />);
 
-    test('custom component is rendered', () => {
-      const component = () => <span>Custom component test</span>;
-      const { getByText } = render(<EuiFlexItem component={component} />);
-
-      expect(getByText('Custom component test')).toBeInTheDocument();
-    });
+    expect(container.firstChild?.nodeName).toEqual('SPAN');
   });
 
   describe('grow', () => {
@@ -94,16 +78,9 @@ describe('EuiFlexItem', () => {
       });
     });
 
-    // React 18 throws a false error on test unmount for components w/ ref callbacks
-    // that throw in a `useEffect`. Note: This only affects the test env, not prod
-    // @see https://github.com/facebook/react/issues/25675#issuecomment-1363957941
-    // TODO: Remove `testOnReactVersion` once the above bug is fixed
-    testOnReactVersion(['16', '17'])(
-      `invalid component types throw an error`,
-      () => {
-        // @ts-expect-error intentionally passing an invalid value
-        expect(() => render(<EuiFlexItem grow={11} />)).toThrow();
-      }
-    );
+    it('throws an error for invalid values', () => {
+      // @ts-expect-error testing invalid type
+      expect(() => render(<EuiFlexItem grow={11} />)).toThrowError();
+    });
   });
 });
diff --git a/src/components/flex/flex_item.tsx b/src/components/flex/flex_item.tsx
index 5af3155efd6..c8998c12563 100644
--- a/src/components/flex/flex_item.tsx
+++ b/src/components/flex/flex_item.tsx
@@ -7,15 +7,10 @@
  */
 
 import React, {
+  HTMLAttributes,
+  FunctionComponent,
   ElementType,
   useEffect,
-  ComponentPropsWithoutRef,
-  PropsWithChildren,
-  ComponentType,
-  ForwardedRef,
-  forwardRef,
-  FunctionComponent,
-  Ref,
 } from 'react';
 import classNames from 'classnames';
 import { CommonProps } from '../common';
@@ -40,43 +35,25 @@ const VALID_GROW_VALUES = [
   10,
 ] as const;
 
-type ComponentPropType = ElementType<CommonProps>;
-
-export type EuiFlexItemProps<TComponent extends ComponentPropType = 'div'> =
-  PropsWithChildren &
-    CommonProps &
-    ComponentPropsWithoutRef<TComponent> & {
-      grow?: boolean | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | null; // Leave this as an inline string enum so the props table properly parses it
-      /**
-       * Customize the component type that is rendered.
-       *
-       * It can be any valid React component type like a tag name string
-       * such as `'div'` or `'span'`, a React component (a function, a class,
-       * or an exotic component like `memo()`).
-       *
-       * `<EuiFlexGroup>` accepts and forwards all extra props to the custom
-       * component.
-       *
-       * @example
-       * // Renders a <button> element
-       * <EuiFlexItem component="button">
-       *   Submit form
-       * </EuiFlexGroup>
-       * @default "div"
-       */
-      component?: TComponent;
-    };
+export interface EuiFlexItemProps {
+  grow?: boolean | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | null; // Leave this as an inline string enum so the props table properly parses it
+  /**
+   * @default div
+   */
+  component?: ElementType;
+}
 
-const EuiFlexItemInternal = <TComponent extends ComponentPropType>(
-  {
-    children,
-    className,
-    grow = true,
-    component = 'div' as TComponent,
-    ...rest
-  }: EuiFlexItemProps<TComponent>,
-  ref: ForwardedRef<TComponent>
-) => {
+export const EuiFlexItem: FunctionComponent<
+  CommonProps &
+    HTMLAttributes<HTMLDivElement | HTMLSpanElement> &
+    EuiFlexItemProps
+> = ({
+  children,
+  className,
+  grow = true,
+  component: Component = 'div',
+  ...rest
+}) => {
   useEffect(() => {
     if (VALID_GROW_VALUES.indexOf(grow) === -1) {
       throw new Error(
@@ -96,27 +73,9 @@ const EuiFlexItemInternal = <TComponent extends ComponentPropType>(
 
   const classes = classNames('euiFlexItem', className);
 
-  // Cast the resolved component prop type to ComponentType to help TS
-  // process multiple infers and the overall type complexity.
-  // This might not be needed in TypeScript 5
-  const Component = component as ComponentType<CommonProps & typeof rest>;
-
   return (
-    <Component {...rest} ref={ref} css={cssStyles} className={classes}>
+    <Component css={cssStyles} className={classes} {...rest}>
       {children}
     </Component>
   );
 };
-
-// Cast forwardRef return type to work with the generic TComponent type
-// and not fallback to implicit any typing
-export const EuiFlexItem = forwardRef(EuiFlexItemInternal) as <
-  TComponent extends ComponentPropType
->(
-  props: EuiFlexItemProps<TComponent> & {
-    ref?: Ref<typeof EuiFlexItemInternal>;
-  }
-) => ReturnType<typeof EuiFlexItemInternal>;
-
-// Cast is required here because of the cast above
-(EuiFlexItem as FunctionComponent).displayName = 'EuiFlexItem';