The Big Five orchestras of the United States are the five symphony orchestras that led the field in "musical excellence, calibre of musicianship, total contract weeks, weekly basic wages, recording guarantees, and paid vacations" when the term gained currency in the late 1950s and for some years afterwards. In order of foundation, they were:

• New York Philharmonic (1842)
• Boston Symphony Orchestra (1881)
• Chicago Symphony Orchestra (1891)
• Philadelphia Orchestra (1900)
• Cleveland Orchestra (1918).