<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>                   9-MOS                      9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                         DEC-31-2000              DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                            JAN-01-2000              JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                              SEP-30-2000              SEP-30-1999
<CASH>                                          6,267                    6,241
<SECURITIES>                                        0                        0
<RECEIVABLES>                                 143,162                  105,686
<ALLOWANCES>                                    5,042                    3,768
<INVENTORY>                                    39,759                   36,550
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                    0                        0
<PP&E>                                        881,064                  684,717
<DEPRECIATION>                                176,863                   84,899
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              1,286,605                1,119,334
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                               0                        0
<BONDS>                                       915,238                  748,402
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          95,672                   95,172
<PREFERRED>                                         0                        0
<COMMON>                                          241                      240
<OTHER-SE>                                    147,802                  150,925
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                1,286,605                1,119,334
<SALES>                                        60,585                   51,134
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                              460,523                  329,479
<CGS>                                          43,226                   38,188
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                 266,618                  184,231
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                              114,959                   76,816
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                    0                        0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             61,740                   41,834
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                17,486                   27,534
<INCOME-TAX>                                    7,710                   11,564
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             9,776                   15,970
<DISCONTINUED>                                      0                        0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                     0                        0
<CHANGES>                                           0                        0
<NET-INCOME>                                    9,776                   15,970
<EPS-BASIC>                                      0.44                     0.68
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    0.32                     0.56



</TABLE>