IKEA Alex Drawer Unit Review: Still Smooth After Two Years
- Nine-drawer version fits a surprising amount of cable clutter, chargers, and paperwork
- Drawers still glide without sticking after two years of daily opening and closing
- Doubles as desk support — pair two units with a tabletop for a makeshift desk
- Particleboard construction means it's not meant to be moved often once assembled
- No lock — not the choice if you need to secure documents
We bought the 9-drawer Alex unit for this review two years ago and have used it daily in a home office since, which is longer than we normally wait before reviewing a budget storage piece.
Why a storage unit gets its own review
Most "best desk accessories" roundups treat storage as an afterthought. We disagree — in a small space, what holds your cables, chargers, and paperwork off the desktop does more for how calm the room feels than almost any other single purchase.
Two years of daily drawers
The drawers on ours still glide without sticking, which was the thing we were most skeptical about going in — particleboard runners have a reputation for degrading. There's a small amount of flex at full extension on the bottom drawer under a heavier load, but nothing that's affected function.
The desk-leg trick
We've used two Alex units as the legs for a plywood top in a corner office setup, which is a common small-space move. It holds steady under normal desk use (typing, a monitor, a laptop) without any noticeable wobble.
Our verdict
This isn't an exciting purchase, but it's the storage piece we'd still buy again at the price. If you need to lock away documents, look elsewhere — otherwise this is the quiet, reliable choice.
Specs
Frequently asked questions
Will the drawers sag over time?
We loaded ours with notebooks, cables, and a small toolkit from day one. After two years, there's a small amount of flex at full extension on the bottom drawer but no sagging or sticking.
Can I use two units as desk legs?
Yes — this is one of the most common small-space setups, and it's what we'd recommend over buying a separate desk frame if you also need the storage.
Is assembly difficult?
Standard IKEA cam-lock assembly, around 45 minutes solo. No specialty tools required beyond what's included.