FORM 10-Q 


                          SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION 
                               Washington, D.C.  20549 

                             _________________________


                        QUARTERLY REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
                          OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 

                         For the quarter ended June 30, 1996 
                              Commission File No.  0-13292


                                   McGRATH RENTCORP 

                (Exact name of registrant as specified in its Charter) 

                        CALIFORNIA                     94-2579843 

                  (State or other jurisdiction        (I.R.S. Employer 
                of incorporation or organization)    Identification No.) 



                                   2500 GRANT AVENUE 
                              SAN LORENZO, CALIFORNIA 94580 

                         (Address of principal executive offices) 

                      Registrant's telephone number: (510) 276-2626 



                             _________________________ 


            Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all
       reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
       Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter
       period that the Registrant was required to file such reports) and (2) has
       been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. 

                      Yes   X                   No
                         ______                   _______


            At August 1, 1996, 7,505,625 shares of Registrant's Common Stock
were outstanding.

                             _________________________ 





                                                                McGrath RentCorp
                                                   Second Quarter 1996 Form 10-Q
                                                                          Page 1

                     PART 1.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.





                                  CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                                           (UNAUDITED)

                                              Three months ended        Six months ended
                                                    June 30,                 June 30,
                                           -----------------------  -----------------------
                                               1996        1995         1996        1995
                                           ----------- -----------  ----------- -----------
                                                                    
REVENUES:
  Rental operations-
    Rental                                 $11,694,056 $11,521,962  $23,251,854 $22,596,061
    Rental related services                  2,093,788   1,768,990    3,752,174   3,799,728
                                           ----------- -----------  ----------- -----------
                                            13,787,844  13,290,952   27,004,028  26,395,789
  Sales and related services                 5,853,535   3,829,895   10,342,702   7,374,527
                                           ----------- -----------  ----------- -----------
        Total revenues                      19,641,379  17,120,847   37,346,730  33,770,316
                                           ----------- -----------  ----------- -----------
COSTS & EXPENSES:
  Direct costs of rental operations-
    Depreciation                             3,075,168   2,847,952    6,080,821   5,602,332
    Rental related services                  1,152,907   1,224,937    2,179,497   2,400,588
    Other                                      874,875   1,185,086    2,103,005   2,337,504
                                           ----------- -----------  ----------- -----------
                                             5,102,950   5,257,975   10,363,323  10,340,424
  Cost of sales and related services         4,092,606   2,576,378    7,193,431   4,905,277
                                           ----------- -----------  ----------- -----------
                                             9,195,556   7,834,353   17,556,754  15,245,701
                                           ----------- -----------  ----------- -----------
        Gross margin                        10,445,823   9,286,494   19,789,976  18,524,615

  Selling and administrative expenses        3,692,656   3,129,694    7,303,129   6,432,380
                                           ----------- -----------  ----------- -----------
        Income from operations               6,753,167   6,156,800   12,486,847  12,092,235

  Interest expense                             682,152     687,207    1,317,426   1,362,661
                                           ----------- -----------  ----------- -----------
        Income before provision
          for income taxes                   6,071,015   5,469,593   11,169,421  10,729,574

  Provision for income taxes                 2,418,925   2,205,204    4,443,754   4,288,216
                                           ----------- -----------  ----------- -----------
  Net income                               $ 3,652,090 $ 3,264,389  $ 6,725,667 $ 6,441,358
                                           =========== ===========  =========== ===========

  Net income per share                     $      0.48 $      0.39  $      0.87 $      0.78
                                           =========== ===========  =========== ===========



The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.





                                                                McGrath RentCorp
                                                   Second Quarter 1996 Form 10-Q
                                                                          Page 2


                            CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                                    (UNAUDITED)

                                                       June 30,   December 31,
                                                         1996         1995
                                                     ------------ ------------
ASSETS
Cash                                                $    576,111 $    221,075
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful
  accounts of $605,000 in 1996 and 1995               14,791,636   13,201,196

Rental equipment, at cost:
  Relocatable modular offices                        145,843,127  146,867,850
  Electronic test instruments                         39,213,091   34,932,807
  Accessory equipment                                  3,881,912    3,755,754
                                                    ------------ ------------
                                                     188,938,130  185,556,411
  Less - Accumulated depreciation                    (61,136,775) (57,948,456)
                                                    ------------ ------------
                                                     127,801,355  127,607,955

Land                                                  19,489,300   19,489,300
Improvements, furniture and equipment, at cost,
  less accumulated depreciation of $2,998,140
  in 1996 and $2,708,404 in 1995                      14,442,712   12,713,095
Prepaid expenses and other assets                      2,219,795    1,897,700
                                                    ------------ ------------
                                                    $179,320,909 $175,130,321
                                                    ============ ============

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Liabilities:
  Notes payable                                     $ 42,375,000 $ 37,080,000
  Accounts payable and accrued liabilities            11,890,376   11,701,417
  Deferred income                                      4,672,838    5,967,063
  Deferred income taxes                               35,884,099   34,488,695
                                                    ------------ ------------
             Total liabilities                        94,822,313   89,237,175
                                                    ------------ ------------

Shareholders' equity:
   Common stock, no par value -
     Authorized - 2O,OOO,OOO shares
     Outstanding - 7,503,625 shares in 1996
                      and 7,769,813 in 1995            6,276,958    8,913,311
   Retained earnings                                  78,221,639   76,979,835
                                                    ------------ ------------
                Total shareholders' equity            84,498,597   85,893,146
                                                    ------------ ------------
                                                    $179,320,910 $175,130,321
                                                    ============ ============

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.





                                                                McGrath RentCorp
                                                   Second Quarter 1996 Form 10-Q
                                                                          Page 3


                         CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                               INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH
                                     (UNAUDITED)
                                                           Six months ended
                                                                June 30,
                                                      -------------------------
                                                           1996         1995
                                                      ------------ ------------
Cash flows from operating activities:
  Net income                                          $  6,725,667 $  6,441,358
  Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
    provided by operating activities:
    Depreciation                                         6,459,352    6,170,130
    Gain on sale of rental equipment                    (2,242,807)  (1,588,298)
    Change in:
      Accounts receivable                               (1,590,440)    (971,864)
      Prepaids and other assets                           (322,095)    (304,599)
      Accounts payable and accrued liabilities              73,524      945,895
      Deferred income                                   (1,294,225)    (441,727)
      Deferred income taxes                              1,395,404      475,073
                                                      ------------ ------------
         Net cash provided by operating activities       9,204,380   10,725,968
                                                      ------------ ------------
Cash flows from investing activities:
  Purchase of rental equipment                         (10,345,648)  (8,693,762)
  Purchase of improvements, furniture and equipment     (2,108,148)  (4,061,745)
  Proceeds from sale of rental equipment                 6,314,234    4,022,660
                                                      ------------ ------------
         Net cash used in investing activities          (6,139,562)  (8,732,847)
                                                      ------------ ------------
Cash flows from financing activities:
  Net borrowings                                         5,295,000    1,365,000
  Payment of dividends                                  (1,997,348)  (1,878,282)
  Repurchase of Common Stock                            (6,276,090)  (2,316,235)
  Proceeds from the exercise of stock options              268,656       26,867
                                                      ------------ ------------
         Net cash used in financing activities          (2,709,782)  (2,802,650)
                                                      ------------ ------------
         Net increase (decrease) in cash                   355,036     (809,529)

Cash balance, beginning of period                          221,075    1,151,648
                                                      ------------ ------------
Cash balance, end of period                           $    576,111 $    342,119
                                                      ============ ============

Interest paid during period                           $  1,307,290 $  1,341,546
                                                      ============ ============
Income taxes paid during period                       $  3,096,306 $  3,372,576
                                                      ============ ============
Dividends declared but not yet paid                   $  1,050,787 $    958,300
                                                      ============ ============


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.






                                                               McGrath RentCorp
                                                  Second Quarter 1996 Form 10-Q
                                                                         Page 4

                     NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
                                   JUNE 30, 1996 
                     __________________________________________ 

1.  The  consolidated financial information  for the six months  ended June
30,  1996 has  not been  audited,  but in  the opinion  of management,  all
adjustments (consisting  only of  normal recurring  accruals, consolidation
and  eliminating  entries)  necessary  for the  fair  presentation  of  the
consolidated results of  operations, financial position, and  cash flows of
McGrath RentCorp  (the  "Company") have been made. The consolidated results
of  the  six  months ended  June  30,  1996  should  not be  considered  as
necessarily indicative of the results for the entire year.  It is suggested
that these  consolidated financial statements  be read in  conjunction with
the financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company's latest
Form 10-K. 

2.  The  number of  outstanding shares  and equivalent  shares used  in the
earnings per common share calculations were as follows: 

                                             Primary        Fully Diluted
                                            ---------      -------------
     Three months ended: June 30, 1996      7,663,491        7,671,682
                         June 30, 1995      8,266,920        8,213,431

       Six months ended: June 30, 1996      7,770,740        7,784,022
                         June 30, 1995      8,279,073        8,222,935

3.  In  May 1996,  the Company's  unsecured line  of credit  agreement (the
"Agreement")  with  its  banks was amended to extend the expiration date of
the Agreement  to June 30, 1997.   In addition to extending  the expiration
date, the amendment  requires the Company to  maintain shareholders' equity
of  not  less  than  $70,000,000  plus 50%  of  all  net  income  generated
subsequent to December 31, 1995 plus 90% of any new stock issuance proceeds
(restricted equity as of June 30, 1996 is $73,362,833). 





                                                               McGrath RentCorp
                                                  Second Quarter 1996 Form 10-Q
                                                                         Page 5

ITEM  2.  MANAGEMENT  DISCUSSION AND  ANALYSIS OF  FINANCIAL CONDITION  AND
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS. 

Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 1996 and 1995 

     Rental  revenues for  the three  and six  months ended  June 30,  1996
increased  $172,094 (1%)  and $655,793  (3%), respectively,  over the  same
periods in  1995.  For  the six  month period,  the $1,330,911  increase in
rental revenues from electronics was offset by a $675,118 decline in rental
revenues from relocatable modular offices.   The rental revenue decline for
modulars is  primarily due to an  increase in rental customers  electing to
purchase modulars they  had on rent and to the  return of modular equipment
related to  several large  expired leases  during the  first six  months of
1996.  Average utilization during the first six months declined for modular
equipment,  from  75.1% to  69.4%,  and  improved slightly  for  electronic
equipment, from 54.4% to 55.6%, as compared to the same period in 1995. 

     The Company has recently experienced  a significant increase in orders
and inquiries for portable classrooms in California, and believes that this
is  in part  a result  of a  law  enacted on  July 15,  1996 in  California
mandating  a reduction  of classroom  size for  kindergarten through  third
grade to 20 pupils and providing $200 million of state funds for facilities
to accomplish  that goal.  The law  requires that the new  classrooms be in
place by February 1997 to be eligible for the state funding.  Approximately
34% of the  Company's 1995 modular rental revenues was  related to portable
classroom rentals to California  school districts.  The Company anticipates
that demand  for portable classrooms  in California will remain  strong for
the remainder of this year and through the February 1997 deadline. 

     Rental  related services  for the  three  months ended  June 30,  1996
increased  $324,798 (18%)  and  for  the six  months  ended  June 30,  1996
decreased $47,554 (1%), respectively, compared to the same periods in 1995.
The increase  for the three  month period  was primarily due  to additional
site  requirements  and increased  movement  of  modular equipment.   Gross
margins for rental related services for the six month period increased from
37% in 1995 to 42% in 1996. 

     Sales and related services for the three and six months ended June 30,
1996 increased  $2,023,640 (30%)  and $2,968,175 (28%),  respectively, over
the same periods  in 1995.  The increase in sales  and related services for
the six  month period  is primarily due  to eight large  sales of  both new
and used relocatable modular equipment.  Of the 1996 modular sales, 22% are
new and 78% are used.  The largest  single sale in 1996 occurred during the
second quarter  for $706,893 to a  university and consisted of  a two story
modular  building placed  on  a permanent  foundation.   Sales and  related
services  from quarter  to quarter  have fluctuated  depending on  customer
requirements.   Gross margins  on sales  and related  services for  the six
month period declined from 33.9% in 1995 to 30.5% in 1996. 




                                                               McGrath RentCorp
                                                  Second Quarter 1996 Form 10-Q
                                                                         Page 6

     Depreciation on  rental equipment for  the three and six  months ended
June 30, 1996 increased $227,216 (8%) and $478,489 (9%), respectively, over
the  same  periods in  1995  due  to  the  increase in  electronics  rental
equipment.  Other direct costs for the  three and six months ended June 30,
1996  have decreased  by $310,211  (26%) and  $234,499 (10%)  respectively,
compared  to the  same  periods  in 1995  due  to  lower maintenance  costs
incurred,  net of  customer  charge-backs, for  the  modular office  rental
fleet. 

     Selling and administrative expenses for the three and six months ended
June 30,  1996 increased $562,962  (18%) and $870,749  (14%), respectively,
over the same periods in 1995.   However, during the first quarter of 1995,
the Company recognized an acceleration  of $330,000 in additional leasehold
improvement expense related to a  rented facility in Southern California in
which the lease was terminated.   Excluding this 1995 nonrecurring expense,
selling and administrative expenses increased  $1,200,749 (19%) for the six
months ended June  30, 1996 compared to  the same period in  1995.  The six
month increase is  primarily due to increases in staffing  levels for sales
and support,  personnel costs,  temporary contract labor  to assist  in the
preparation of modular  offices for potential lease  or sale opportunities,
and  increases in  expenses  of the  Company's  majority owned  subsidiary,
Enviroplex, Inc.   The increase  in expenses  are net  of the  reduction in
facilities rental  due to  the relocation of  modular office  operations in
Southern California and Texas to owned facilities. 

     Income before provision for income taxes  for the three and six months
ended  June   30,  1996  increased   $601,422  (11%)  and   $439,847  (4%),
respectively, over the same periods in 1995.  Net income increased $387,701
(12%) for the three month period and $284,309 (4%) for the six month period
over the same  periods in 1995.  Earnings  per share for the  three and six
months ended  June 30, 1996  increased 23%, from  $0.39 to $0.48,  and 12%,
from $0.78 to $0.87, over the comparative 1995 period as a result of higher
earnings and fewer outstanding shares. 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES.

     The debt  (notes payable) to  equity ratio was 0.50  to 1 at  June 30,
1996  compared  to  0.43 to  1  at  December  31,  1995.  The  debt  (total
liabilities) to equity ratio at the end of the current period was 1.12 to 1
as compared to 1.04 to 1 as of December 31 1995. 

     The Company continues to make purchases  of shares of its common stock
from time  to time  in the over-the-counter  market (NASDQ)  and/or through
privately negotiated,  large block  transactions under an  authorization of
the  Board  of  Directors.   The  Board  of  Directors  believes  that  the
repurchase  of  its shares  continues  to  be  a  good investment  for  the
Company.  Shares  repurchased  by  the  Company  will  be  cancelled  and
returned to the  status of authorized but unissued stock.   From January 1,
1996  thru August  1,  1996, the  Company repurchased  a  total of  318,961
shares of its common stock at an aggregate cost of $6,276,090 or an average
price of $19.68 per share.





                                                                McGrath RentCorp
                                                   Second Quarter 1996 Form 10-Q
                                                                          Page 7

As of August 1, 1996, 500,000 shares remain authorized for repurchase. 

     The Company's  primary use of  funds is to purchase  rental equipment,
and  funds  will continue  to  be  used for  this  purpose  in the  future.
Additionally, the Company plans to make further improvements to the land at
their inventory facility located in Northern California.  The  Company also
pays quarterly dividends,  which will constitute an additional  use of cash
in 1996. 


                             PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 5.  OTHER INFORMATION

     In June 1996, the Company declared  a quarterly dividend on its Common
Stock;  the  dividend  was  $0.14  per share.   Subject  to  its  continued
profitability and favorable cash flow,  the Company intends to continue the
payment  of quarterly  dividends.  The  Company's loan  agreement with  its
banks prohibits payment of dividends in excess  of 50% of net income in any
one year without the banks' consent. 


ITEM 6.  EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

(a) EXHIBITS. 

          Index to exhibits filed herewith as part of this report: 

          Exhibit 
          Number    Title 

          4.1       Second Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
                    dated May 10, 1996 between the Company and Union Bank of
                    California (formerly known as The Bank of California,
                    N.A.), Fleet Bank (formerly known as National Westminster
                    Bank, USA) and Bank of America National Trust and Savings
                    Association 

          4.2       Third Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
                    dated June 10, 1996 between the Company and Union Bank of
                    California (formerly known as The Bank of California,
                    N.A.), Fleet Bank (formerly known as National Westminster
                    Bank, USA) and Bank of America National Trust and Savings
                    Association 


(b) REPORTS ON FORM 8-K.  No reports on form 8-K have been filed during the
quarter for which this report is filed. 




                                                               McGrath RentCorp
                                                  Second Quarter 1996 Form 10-Q
                                                                         Page 8

                                   SIGNATURES 

     Pursuant to the  requirements of the Securities Exchange  Act of 1934,
the Registrant has  duly caused this report  to be signed on  its behalf by
the undersigned thereunto duly authorized. 


Date: August 1, 1996                         McGRATH RENTCORP


                                             By: /s/ Delight Saxton 
                                             ___________________________ 
                                             Delight Saxton, Chief Financial 
                                             Officer and Vice President
                                             of Administration