3D-printed concrete is exposed to rapid pore water evaporation immediately after extrusion, leading to plastic shrinkage and cracking. Plastic shrinkage and related cracking can severely impair the durability, serviceability, aesthetics and structural stability of 3D-printed concrete elements. This article addresses the specific evaporative and deformation behaviours of 3D-printed concrete elements. The absence of the formwork was found to more than double the extent of plastic shrinkage. Moreover, the study showed that the extent of plastic shrinkage is proportional to the exposed surface-to-volume ratio. In addition, the study confirms that concrete elements printed with thin filaments are more susceptible to plastic shrinkage than those printed with thick filaments.