<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
 
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF NATIONAL SERVICES EQUIPMENT, INC. AND
SUBSIDIARIES AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0001051381
<NAME> NATIONAL EQUIPMENT SERVICES, INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000 
       
<S>                             <C>                 <C>                  <C>                                    
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS              12-MOS               OTHER                     
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                     DEC-31-1998          DEC-31-1997         DEC-31-1996         
<PERIOD-START>                        JAN-01-1998          JAN-01-1997         JUN-04-1996         
<PERIOD-END>                          DEC-31-1998          DEC-31-1997         DEC-31-1996         
<CASH>                                        344               35,682                  12         
<SECURITIES>                                    0                    0                   0         
<RECEIVABLES>                              53,323                8,610                   0         
<ALLOWANCES>                                2,590                  254                   0         
<INVENTORY>                                15,606                2,239                   0         
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                0                    0                   0         
<PP&E>                                    444,342               55,198                  20         
<DEPRECIATION>                             37,072                5,385                   3         
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                            720,483              131,137                 216         
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           0                    0                   0         
<BONDS>                                   513,836               98,782                   0         
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           0                    0                   0         
<PREFERRED>                                     0                    0                   0         
<COMMON>                                      241                    2                   1         
<OTHER-SE>                                136,625               26,471                 105         
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>              720,483              131,137                 216         
<SALES>                                    59,346               14,890                   0         
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                          225,248               41,288                   0         
<CGS>                                      30,924                7,807                   0         
<TOTAL-COSTS>                             122,455               25,715                   0         
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                           52,856                9,386                 336         
<LOSS-PROVISION>                            3,007                  479                   0         
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         27,073                4,545                 (4)         
<INCOME-PRETAX>                            23,581                1,923               (332)         
<INCOME-TAX>                                9,904                  818               (137)         
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                        13,677                1,105               (195)         
<DISCONTINUED>                                  0                    0                   0         
<EXTRAORDINARY>                             1,424                    0                   0         
<CHANGES>                                       0                    0                   0         
<NET-INCOME>                               12,253                1,105               (195)         
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                0.66                 0.09              (0.05)         
<EPS-DILUTED>                                0.61                 0.08              (0.05)         
        

</TABLE>