The purpose of this study is to address the limitation that quality control methods of pavement concrete do not account for the printability evaluation of 3D printed pavement concrete. Based on the edge slump test, shape-holding strength test and surface smoothness test, the graded evaluation indicators for the printability of 3D printed pavement concrete were established. To validate the proposed printability evaluation method, a laboratory mini-3D printed paving device was designed. The laboratory results indicate that the edge slump evaluation, shape-holding strength evaluation, and surface smoothness evaluation can quantitatively measure the printability of cement concrete with various mix designs and assess whether the mix proportions of concrete meet the requirements of 3D printed pavement concrete. Additionally, the findings also show that the proposed evaluation method can provide guidance for the optimization of the mix proportions used for 3D printed pavement concrete.•Edge slump, shape-holding strength, and surface smoothness tests are used to develop graded printability evaluation indicators for 3D printed pavement.•A laboratory mini 3D printed paver is designed to validate the proposed evaluation method.•The evaluation method quantitatively measures printability across concrete mix designs.