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

    <schemaVersion>X0305</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-03-30</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-Lewis Clare M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>250 EAST FIFTH STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></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>2012-03-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2489</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>8.79</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>51826</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Table I, Item 1: Represents an aggregate of $21,875 in first quarter fees (paid in arrears) for service on the Board of Directors and its committees that Dr. Hasler-Lewis elected to defer 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. The fair market value of a share of Common Stock is the closing price of a share as reported on the New York Stock Exchange Composite Tape on the last trading day of the calendar quarter.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Barbara Wagner as Attorney-in-Fact for Dr. Clare M. Hasler-Lewis</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-04-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0305
4
2012-03-30
0
0000101063
CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL INC
CQB
0001340559
Hasler-Lewis Clare M
250 EAST FIFTH STREET
CINCINNATI
OH
45202
1
0
0
0
Common Stock
2012-03-30
4
A
0
2489
8.79
A
51826
D
Table I, Item 1: Represents an aggregate of $21,875 in first quarter fees (paid in arrears) for service on the Board of Directors and its committees that Dr. Hasler-Lewis elected to defer 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. The fair market value of a share of Common Stock is the closing price of a share as reported on the New York Stock Exchange Composite Tape on the last trading day of the calendar quarter.
Barbara Wagner as Attorney-in-Fact for Dr. Clare M. Hasler-Lewis
2012-04-02