The station was initially opened as a main line station on the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway in 1885, on a new branch connecting London with Southend by a more direct route than the existing service via Rainham.
Dagenham was already served by a station on the original route at Dagenham Dock, 1.5 miles (2.4 km) to the south.
The new station was opened as Dagenham, with the main station buildings on the up platform, which is now disused.
From 1902 to 1905 the station was served by trains of the District Railway, who connected to the main line at a junction at Bow.
The station was in a rural location until the building of the Becontree estate, of which it was on the eastern perimeter.

London, Tilbury and Southend Railway operation passed to the London, Midland and Scottish Railway and in 1932 an additional set of tracks were constructed between Barking and Upminster.
The current station structures originate from this period.
The new tracks were electrified and permitted the District line to operate as far Upminster for the first time since 1905.
An additional station was opened at Heathway in 1932 and Dagenham East was renamed to its current name in 1949.
The station was predominantly served by the electric London Underground services and the main line platforms were eventually decommissioned in 1962, when those lines were overhead electrified.
After nationalisation of the railways in 1948 management of the station passed to British Railways and in 1969 ownership transferred to the London Underground.
The station was initially opened as a main line station on the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway in 1885, on a new branch connecting London with Southend by a more direct route than the existing service via Rainham. Dagenham was already served by a station on the original route at Dagenham Dock, 1.5 miles (2.4 km) to the south. The new station was opened as Dagenham, with the main station buildings on the up platform, which is now disused. From 1902 to 1905 the station was served by trains of the District Railway, who connected to the main line at a junction at Bow. The station was in a rural location until the building of the Becontree estate, of which it was on the eastern perimeter.
London, Tilbury and Southend Railway operation passed to the London, Midland and Scottish Railway and in 1932 an additional set of tracks were constructed between Barking and Upminster. The current station structures originate from this period. The new tracks were electrified and permitted the District line to operate as far Upminster for the first time since 1905. An additional station was opened at Heathway in 1932 and Dagenham East was renamed to its current name in 1949. The station was predominantly served by the electric London Underground services and the main line platforms were eventually decommissioned in 1962, when those lines were overhead electrified. After nationalisation of the railways in 1948 management of the station passed to British Railways and in 1969 ownership transferred to the London Underground.
Dagenham East tube station