<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
95,672 95,172
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>