<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-02-22</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000101063</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>cqb</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001340559</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Hasler Clare M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2679 SHINN PLACE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WOODLAND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>95776</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-02-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4226</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>16932</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Table I, Item 4:  Represents 2007 non-employee director compensation of shares of Common Stock with a fair market value of $80,000, paid in arrears and valued (based on the closing price of the Common Stock) on the third business day following the date on which the Company's annual financial results are released. Dr. Hasler has elected to defer her shares into common stock units under the Directors Deferred Compensation Program. Each common stock unit represents one share of Common Stock and all stock units must be settled in Common Stock.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>James E. Thompson as Attorney-in-Fact for Clare M. Hasler</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-02-26</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2008-02-22
0
0000101063
CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL INC
cqb
0001340559
Hasler Clare M
2679 SHINN PLACE
WOODLAND
CA
95776
1
0
0
0
Common Stock
2008-02-22
4
A
0
4226
0
A
16932
D
Table I, Item 4:  Represents 2007 non-employee director compensation of shares of Common Stock with a fair market value of $80,000, paid in arrears and valued (based on the closing price of the Common Stock) on the third business day following the date on which the Company's annual financial results are released. Dr. Hasler has elected to defer her shares into common stock units under the Directors Deferred Compensation Program. Each common stock unit represents one share of Common Stock and all stock units must be settled in Common Stock.
James E. Thompson as Attorney-in-Fact for Clare M. Hasler
2008-02-26