BACKGROUND Peri-operative and critically ill patients often experience mild to moderate hypovolaemic shock with preserved mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR) and decreased stroke volume index (SVI). OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to evaluate echocardiographic parameters during simulated mild to moderate central hypovolaemia. DESIGN This was a prospective preclinical study. SETTING Laboratory trial performed in Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany. PATIENTS AND METHODS Thirty healthy male volunteers underwent graded central hypovolaemia using a lower body negative pressure (LBNP) chamber with a stepwise decrease to simulate a mild (−15 mmHg), mild-to-moderate (−30 mmHg), and moderate state of hypovolaemic shock (−45 mmHg). During every stage, a transthoracic echocardiography examination (TTE) was performed by a certified examiner. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Systolic and diastolic myocardial performance markers, as well as cardiac volumes were recorded during simulated hypovolaemia and compared to baseline values. RESULTS During simulated hypovolaemia via LBNP, SVI decreased progressively at all stages, whereas MAP and HR did not consistently change. Left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction decreased at −30 and −45 mmHg. Simultaneously with SVI decline, LV global longitudinal strain (LV GLS), tricuspid annular plain systolic excursion (TAPSE), and right ventricular RV S’ and left-atrial end-systolic volume (LA ESV) decreased compared to baseline at all stages. CONCLUSIONS In this study, simulated central hypovolaemia using LBNP did not induce consistent changes in MAP and HR. SVI decreased and was associated with deteriorated right- and left-ventricular function, observed with echocardiography. The decreased filling status was characterised by decreased LA ESV. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03481855.