<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM (A) McGRATH RENTCORP'S QUARTERLY REPORT (10Q) FOR QUARTER ENDING JUNE 30, 1998. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1998 <CASH> 1,076 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 23,841 <ALLOWANCES> (650) <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 0 <PP&E> 317,958<F1> <DEPRECIATION> (80,385)<F2> <TOTAL-ASSETS> 266,575 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 0 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 7,702 <OTHER-SE> 89,466 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 266,575 <SALES> 60,825 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 60,825 <CGS> 31,398 <TOTAL-COSTS> 31,398 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 7,544 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 3,034 <INCOME-PRETAX> 18,850 <INCOME-TAX> 7,427 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 0 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 10,942<F3> <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.77 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.75 <FN> <F1>INCLUDES RENTAL EQUIPMENT, LAND, LAND IMPROVEMENTS, FURNITURE AND EQUIPMENT <F2>ACCUMULATED DEPRECIATION OF <F1> ABOVE <F3>MINORITY INTEREST IN INCOME OF SUBSIDIARY INCLUDED </FN>