In this study, the effect of ambient temperature during casting on fresh properties, hydration kinetics, and early‐age compressive strength of self-consolidating concrete (SCC) was evaluated. Concrete equivalent mortars (CEMs) with water‐to‐binder ratios of 0.41 and 0.45 were cast based on SCC mixture designs for building and infrastructure construction and precast applications. The CEMs were prepared at temperatures ranging from 8 to 36°C. Superplasticizer (SP) and air‐entraining agent (AEA) demand were evaluated for the CEM mixtures made with different supplementary cementing material (SCM) and limestone filler types. Test results showed that the ambient temperature can significantly affect the SP and AEA demand, hydration kinetics, and compressive strength at 1 day. For a constant slump flow and air content, the demand of the SP and AEA, heat flux, and 1‐d compressive strength of CEMs increased linearly with material temperature.