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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-04-03</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001229853</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CAMP WILLIAM H</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL INC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>250 EAST FIFTH STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CINCINNATI</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>45202</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>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-04-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7185</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7185</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Note 1: Table 1, Item 1:  Restricted Stock Award granted April 3, 2008 to Mr. Camp pursuant to the Chiquita Stock and Incentive Plan upon his initial election to the board as part of the Company's standard compensation package for non-employee directors.  The shares granted under this award will vest 100% on the day that Mr. Camp ceases to be a non-employee director.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>James E. Thompson as Attorney-in-Fact for William H. Camp</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-04-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2008-04-03
0
0000101063
CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL INC
cqb
0001229853
CAMP WILLIAM H
CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL INC
250 EAST FIFTH STREET
CINCINNATI
OH
45202
1
0
0
0
Common Stock
2008-04-03
4
A
0
7185
0
A
7185
D
Note 1: Table 1, Item 1:  Restricted Stock Award granted April 3, 2008 to Mr. Camp pursuant to the Chiquita Stock and Incentive Plan upon his initial election to the board as part of the Company's standard compensation package for non-employee directors.  The shares granted under this award will vest 100% on the day that Mr. Camp ceases to be a non-employee director.
James E. Thompson as Attorney-in-Fact for William H. Camp
2008-04-04