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

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2011-03-07</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001229853</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CAMP WILLIAM H</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>250 EAST FIFTH STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CINCINNATI</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>45202</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>2011-03-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6815</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>30871</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>by Trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Table I, Item 1:  Represents 2010 non-employee director compensation of shares of Common Stock with a fair market value of $98,000, paid in arrears and valued (based on the closing price of the Common Stock) on the third business day following the date on which the Company's annual financial results are released. Mr. Camp has elected to defer his shares 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>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>James E. Thompson as Attorney-in-Fact for William H. Camp</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-03-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0303
4
2011-03-07
0
0000101063
CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL INC
CQB
0001229853
CAMP WILLIAM H
250 EAST FIFTH STREET
CINCINNATI
OH
45202
1
0
0
0
Common Stock
2011-03-07
4
A
0
6815
0
A
30871
D
Common Stock
7000
I
by Trust
Table I, Item 1:  Represents 2010 non-employee director compensation of shares of Common Stock with a fair market value of $98,000, paid in arrears and valued (based on the closing price of the Common Stock) on the third business day following the date on which the Company's annual financial results are released. Mr. Camp has elected to defer his shares 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.
James E. Thompson as Attorney-in-Fact for William H. Camp
2011-03-08