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

    <schemaVersion>X0305</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-05-14</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001543219</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Maserang II D Deverl</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>SVP Product Supply Org</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-05-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>23256</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>58654</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 May 14, 2012 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 February 24 in each of 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 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>James E. Thompson as Attorney-in-Fact for D. Deverl Maserang II</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-05-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0305
4
2012-05-14
0
0000101063
CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL INC
CQB
0001543219
Maserang II D Deverl
250 EAST FIFTH STREET
CINCINNATI
OH
45202
0
1
0
0
SVP Product Supply Org
Common Stock
2012-05-14
4
A
0
23256
0
A
58654
D
Table 1, Item.1: Restricted Stock Award granted effective May 14, 2012 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 February 24 in each of 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 provided that the Reporting Person is employed by the Company or any of the Company's subsidiaries on the applicable vesting date.
James E. Thompson as Attorney-in-Fact for D. Deverl Maserang II
2012-05-14