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

    <schemaVersion>X0304</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2011-08-23</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001461663</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Ritchey Lori A</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>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP, Controller and CAO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2011-08-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>13472</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>28461</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Table 1, Item.1: Restricted Stock Award granted effective August 23, 2011 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 23 in each of 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 provided that the Reporting Person is employed by the Company or any of the Company's subsidiaries on the applicable vesting date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Barbara Wagner as Attorney-in-Fact for Lori A. Ritchey</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-08-25</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0304
4
2011-08-23
0
0000101063
CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL INC
CQB
0001461663
Ritchey Lori A
250 EAST FIFTH STREET
CINCINNATI
OH
45202
0
1
0
0
VP, Controller and CAO
Common Stock
2011-08-23
4
A
0
13472
0
A
28461
D
Table 1, Item.1: Restricted Stock Award granted effective August 23, 2011 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 23 in each of 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 provided that the Reporting Person is employed by the Company or any of the Company's subsidiaries on the applicable vesting date.
Barbara Wagner as Attorney-in-Fact for Lori A. Ritchey
2011-08-25