<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
95,547 95,000
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>