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

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-08-05</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001202015</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ZALLA JEFFREY M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>250 EAST FIFTH ST</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CINCINNATI</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>45202</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Senior Vice President and CFO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-08-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>15914</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>89261</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>70</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>by 401(k)</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Table 1, Item.1: Restricted Stock Award granted effective August 5, 2008 pursuant to the Chiquita Stock and Incentive Plan and the Company's Equity-Based Compensation Guidelines.  The shares granted under this Award will vest over a four year period with 25% becoming exercisable on August 5 in each of 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 provided that the Reporting Person is employed by the Company or any of the Company's subsidiaries on the applicable vesting date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Table 1, Item 5: Represents the number of whole units held in the Chiquita Stock Fund of the Company's Savings and Investment Plan, a 401(k) Plan, based on a plan statement dated as of June 30, 2008.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>James E. Thompson as Attorney-in-Fact for Jeffrey M. Zalla</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-08-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0303
4
2008-08-05
0
0000101063
CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL INC
cqb
0001202015
ZALLA JEFFREY M
250 EAST FIFTH ST
CINCINNATI
OH
45202
0
1
0
0
Senior Vice President and CFO
Common Stock
2008-08-05
4
A
0
15914
0
A
89261
D
Common Stock
70
I
by 401(k)
Table 1, Item.1: Restricted Stock Award granted effective August 5, 2008 pursuant to the Chiquita Stock and Incentive Plan and the Company's Equity-Based Compensation Guidelines.  The shares granted under this Award will vest over a four year period with 25% becoming exercisable on August 5 in each of 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 provided that the Reporting Person is employed by the Company or any of the Company's subsidiaries on the applicable vesting date.
Table 1, Item 5: Represents the number of whole units held in the Chiquita Stock Fund of the Company's Savings and Investment Plan, a 401(k) Plan, based on a plan statement dated as of June 30, 2008.
James E. Thompson as Attorney-in-Fact for Jeffrey M. Zalla
2008-08-06