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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-12-29</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001194016</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BENJAMIN JEFFREY D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>9 WEST 57TH STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>43TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10019</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>2006-12-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>391</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>18402.6925</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-01-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2500</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>20902.6925</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Table I, Item 4: Represents fees for service as a member of the Board of Directors which are paid each quarter in arrears, half in cash and half in shares of Common Stock.  Each quarterly payment consists of $6,250 in cash and a number of shares of Common Stock having an aggregate fair market value of $6,250. 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. For 2006, Mr. Benjamin elected to have the cash portion of his fees deferred in cash, and the stock portion deferred 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.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Note 2: Table 1, Item 4:  Annual Restricted Stock Award granted January 2, 2007 pursuant to the non-employee director restricted stock program under the Chiquita Stock and Incentive Plan.  The shares granted under this award will vest 100% on the day that Mr.Benjamin ceases to be a non-employee director.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>James E. Thompson as Attorney-in-Fact for Jeffrey D. Benjamin</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-01-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2006-12-29
0
0000101063
CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL INC
cqb
0001194016
BENJAMIN JEFFREY D
9 WEST 57TH STREET
43TH FLOOR
NEW YORK
NY
10019
1
0
0
0
Common Stock
2006-12-29
4
A
0
391
0
A
18402.6925
D
Common Stock
2007-01-02
4
A
0
2500
0
A
20902.6925
D
Table I, Item 4: Represents fees for service as a member of the Board of Directors which are paid each quarter in arrears, half in cash and half in shares of Common Stock.  Each quarterly payment consists of $6,250 in cash and a number of shares of Common Stock having an aggregate fair market value of $6,250. 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. For 2006, Mr. Benjamin elected to have the cash portion of his fees deferred in cash, and the stock portion deferred 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.
Note 2: Table 1, Item 4:  Annual Restricted Stock Award granted January 2, 2007 pursuant to the non-employee director restricted stock program under the Chiquita Stock and Incentive Plan.  The shares granted under this award will vest 100% on the day that Mr.Benjamin ceases to be a non-employee director.
James E. Thompson as Attorney-in-Fact for Jeffrey D. Benjamin
2007-01-03