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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-01-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001203117</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KISTINGER ROBERT F</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>President &amp; COO Chiquita Fresh</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-01-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4951</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>20.075</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>66627</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>344</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">Note 1:  Table I, Item 1.  Shares withheld, based on the fair market value of the Common Stock on December 30, 2005, to pay required withholding taxes upon the vesting on January 1, 2006 of a Restricted Stock Award granted February 25, 2005 under the Company's Long-Term Incentive Program.  The full Award was previously reported.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Note 2:  Table I, Item 5.  Represents units held in the Chiquita Common Stock Fund of the Company's Savings and Investment Plan, a 401(k) plan, based on a Plan statement dated as of September 30, 2005.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Robert W. Olson as Attorney-in-Fact for Robert F. Kistinger</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-01-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2006-01-01
0
0000101063
CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL INC
cqb
0001203117
KISTINGER ROBERT F
250 EAST FIFTH ST
CINCINNATI
OH
45202
0
1
0
0
President & COO Chiquita Fresh
Common Stock
2006-01-01
4
F
0
4951
20.075
D
66627
D
Common Stock
344
I
By 401(k)
Note 1:  Table I, Item 1.  Shares withheld, based on the fair market value of the Common Stock on December 30, 2005, to pay required withholding taxes upon the vesting on January 1, 2006 of a Restricted Stock Award granted February 25, 2005 under the Company's Long-Term Incentive Program.  The full Award was previously reported.
Note 2:  Table I, Item 5.  Represents units held in the Chiquita Common Stock Fund of the Company's Savings and Investment Plan, a 401(k) plan, based on a Plan statement dated as of September 30, 2005.
Robert W. Olson as Attorney-in-Fact for Robert F. Kistinger
2006-01-03