Lightweight　aggregate　(LWA)　can　provide　internal　curing　to　lightweight　aggregate　concrete　(LWAC)　due　to　the　water　absorption　and　desorption　capability　of　ceramsite.　Hence,　the　addition　of　ceramsite　has　a　strong　effect　on　the　early　age　autogenous　shrinkage　of　LWAC.　In　this　paper,　the　early-age　autogenous　shrinkage　of　LWAC　with　different　prewetting　degree　LWA　was　quantitatively　studied　when　the　same　net　water　to　cement　ratio　(NWC)　or　total　water　to　cement　ratio　(TWC)　was　used.　During　the　liquid　phase　and　skeleton-formational　phase,　the　positive　effect　of　the　24　h　prewetted　ceramsite　on　the　early-age　autogeneous　shrinkage　of　LWAC　is　obvious.　During　the　hardening　phase,　the　LWACs　show　small　expansion　strains.　Therefore　the　early　age　autogeneous　shrinkage　of　LWAC　decreases　with　the　increase　of　prewetting　degree　of　ceramsite　for　the　same　NWC　or　TWC.　©　2015　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.