EXHIBIT 12.1


                           RENTAL SERVICE CORPORATION

               COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES





                                                   Year Ended December 31,                  Three Months Ended March 31,
                                  -----------------------------------------------------   --------------------------------
                                         1995              1996              1997             1997               1998
                                  -----------------------------------------------------   ------------        ------------  
                                                                                               
Earnings:
 Income from continuing
  operations before provision
  for income taxes................    $ 6,116,000       $ 6,711,000       $23,479,000       $3,905,000        $ 9,585,000       
 Total fixed charges..............      4,033,000         7,987,000        16,483,000        1,915,000          8,259,000       
                                      -----------       -----------       -----------       ----------        ----------- 
  Total earnings..................    $10,149,000       $14,698,000       $39,962,000       $5,820,000        $17,844,000       
                                      ===========       ===========       ===========       ==========        ===========       
Fixed charges:                                                                                                                  
 Interest expense.................    $ 3,314,000       $ 7,063,000       $14,877,000       $1,597,000        $ 7,583,000       
 Implicit interest in rent                                                                                                      
  expense.........................        719,000           924,000         1,606,000          318,000            676,000       
                                      -----------       -----------       -----------       ----------        ----------- 
  Total fixed charges.............    $ 4,033,000       $ 7,987,000       $16,483,000       $1,915,000        $ 8,259,000       
                                      ===========       ===========       ===========       ==========        ===========       
Ratio of earnings to fixed                                                                                                      
  charges.........................            2.5x              1.8x              2.4x             3.0x               2.2x     
                                      ===========       ===========       ===========       ==========        ===========