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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-10-17</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001191556</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>JAGER DURK I</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O PROCTER &amp; GAMBLE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>ONE PROCTER &amp; GAMBLE PLAZA</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>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-10-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>82.6758</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>21750.6758</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Table 1: Item 4.  Represents dividends paid in stock units to Mr.Jager's Directors Deferred Compensation Plan (&quot;DDCP&quot;) account on October 17, 2005.  Also includes stock units earned in Mr.Jager DDCP account as a result of dividends paid on January 17, April 15 and July 15.  Due to an administrative error, the recordkeeper of the DDCP failed to timely credit the units to his account for the January, April and July dividend payment dates.

The number of stock units credited to the participant's account for a dividend payment is calculated by multiplying the number of whole units in the participant's account on the record date for the dividend by the dividend per share ($.10) and dividing that amount by the fair market value of one share of common stock on the dividend payment date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Robert W. Olson as Attorney-in-Fact for Durk I. Jager</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-10-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2005-10-17
0
0000101063
CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL INC
cqb
0001191556
JAGER DURK I
C/O PROCTER & GAMBLE
ONE PROCTER & GAMBLE PLAZA
CINCINNATI
OH
45202
1
0
0
0
Common Stock
2005-10-17
4
J
0
82.6758
0
A
21750.6758
D
Table 1: Item 4.  Represents dividends paid in stock units to Mr.Jager's Directors Deferred Compensation Plan ("DDCP") account on October 17, 2005.  Also includes stock units earned in Mr.Jager DDCP account as a result of dividends paid on January 17, April 15 and July 15.  Due to an administrative error, the recordkeeper of the DDCP failed to timely credit the units to his account for the January, April and July dividend payment dates.

The number of stock units credited to the participant's account for a dividend payment is calculated by multiplying the number of whole units in the participant's account on the record date for the dividend by the dividend per share ($.10) and dividing that amount by the fair market value of one share of common stock on the dividend payment date.
Robert W. Olson as Attorney-in-Fact for Durk I. Jager
2005-10-19