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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-10-11</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001340559</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Hasler Clare M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>UNIVERSITY OF CALFORNIA, DAVIS</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>129 CRUESS HALL CALIFORNIA AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DAVIS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>95616</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>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-10-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Note 1: Table 1, Item 1 Restricted Stock Award granted October 11,2005 pursuant to the Chiquita 2002 Stock Option and Incentive Plan.  The shares granted under this Award will vest over a three year period with one-third becoming exercisable on October 11 in each of  2006, 2007 and 2008 provided that Dr. Hasler is serving as a director on the applicable vesting date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Robert W.Olson as Attorney-in-Fact for Clare M.Hasler</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-10-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2005-10-11
0
0000101063
CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL INC
cqb
0001340559
Hasler Clare M
UNIVERSITY OF CALFORNIA, DAVIS
129 CRUESS HALL CALIFORNIA AVENUE
DAVIS
CA
95616
1
0
0
0
Common Stock
2005-10-11
4
A
0
10000
0
A
10000
D
Note 1: Table 1, Item 1 Restricted Stock Award granted October 11,2005 pursuant to the Chiquita 2002 Stock Option and Incentive Plan.  The shares granted under this Award will vest over a three year period with one-third becoming exercisable on October 11 in each of  2006, 2007 and 2008 provided that Dr. Hasler is serving as a director on the applicable vesting date.
Robert W.Olson as Attorney-in-Fact for Clare M.Hasler
2005-10-11