<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>

<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
Consolidatd 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>                   YEAR                       YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                         DEC-31-1999                DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                            JAN-01-1999                JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                              DEC-31-1999                DEC-31-1998
<CASH>                                         33,530                        344
<SECURITIES>                                        0                          0
<RECEIVABLES>                                 118,561                     55,913
<ALLOWANCES>                                    5,425                      2,590
<INVENTORY>                                    37,016                     15,606
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                    0                          0
<PP&E>                                        725,044                    444,378
<DEPRECIATION>                                105,033                     37,108
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              1,219,614                    720,483
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                               0                          0
<BONDS>                                       856,710                    513,836
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          95,297                          0
<PREFERRED>                                         0                          0
<COMMON>                                          241                        241
<OTHER-SE>                                    151,237                    136,625
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                1,219,614                    720,483
<SALES>                                       131,659                     59,346
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                              473,194                    225,248
<CGS>                                         195,702                     93,033
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                 260,800                    122,455
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                              117,391                     52,856
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                    0                          0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             60,156                     26,745
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                35,536                     23,581
<INCOME-TAX>                                   14,443                      9,904
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            21,093                     13,677
<DISCONTINUED>                                      0                          0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                     0                      1,424
<CHANGES>                                           0                          0
<NET-INCOME>                                   21,093                     12,253
<EPS-BASIC>                                      0.89                       0.66
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    0.72                       0.61



</TABLE>