<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>

<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from
the Consolidated Financial Statements of National Equipment Services, Inc. and
its subsidiaries and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial
statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

<S>                             <C>                      <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS                    6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                         DEC-31-2000              DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                            JAN-01-2000              JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                              JUN-30-2000              JUN-30-1999
<CASH>                                          1,232                      478
<SECURITIES>                                        0                        0
<RECEIVABLES>                                 132,561                   76,586
<ALLOWANCES>                                    5,666                    2,722
<INVENTORY>                                    42,669                   21,056
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                    0                        0
<PP&E>                                        843,428                  590,441
<DEPRECIATION>                                151,015                   66,801
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              1,261,209                  902,054
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                               0                        0
<BONDS>                                       906,476                  591,025
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          95,547                   95,000
<PREFERRED>                                         0                        0
<COMMON>                                          241                      241
<OTHER-SE>                                    142,884                  143,410
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                1,261,209                  902,054
<SALES>                                        41,024                   32,024
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                              293,010                  197,375
<CGS>                                          29,594                   23,684
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                 171,710                  114,273
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               74,634                   45,809
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                    0                        0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             40,112                   26,334
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 6,748                   11,626
<INCOME-TAX>                                    2,733                    4,883
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             4,015                    6,743
<DISCONTINUED>                                      0                        0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                     0                        0
<CHANGES>                                           0                        0
<NET-INCOME>                                    4,015                    6,743
<EPS-BASIC>                                      0.17                     0.29
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    0.13                     0.26


</TABLE>