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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-10-27</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</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>Fmr Pres &amp; COO Chiquita Fresh</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-10-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2996</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>17.01</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>175291</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-10-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>65000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>18</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>110291</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="F3"/>
                </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 l.  Shares withheld, based on the fair market value of the Common Stock on October 26, 2007, to pay required withholding taxes upon the vesting of 7,124 shares covered by a Restricted Stock Award granted October 27, 2005 under the Company's Stock and Incentive Plan. The full award was previously reported.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Note 2:  Table 1, Item 1. The transactions on October 29, 2007 were effected pursuant to a previously reported Rule 10b5-1 trading plan adopted by Mr. Kistinger on June 15, 2007.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Note 3: Table 1, Item 5:  Represents the number of whole units held in the Chiquita Stock Fund of the Company's Savings and Investment Plan, a 401(k) Plan, based on a plan statement dated as of September 30, 2007.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>This form is being filed voluntarily by Mr. Kistinger, former President and Chief Operating Officer, Chiquita Fresh Group.  He ceased to be an executive officer on October 25, 2007 and is currently President, Special Assignments.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>James E. Thompson as Attorney-in-Fact for Robert F. Kistinger</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-10-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2007-10-27
1
0000101063
CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL INC
cqb
0001203117
KISTINGER ROBERT F
250 EAST FIFTH ST
CINCINNATI
OH
45202
0
1
0
0
Fmr Pres & COO Chiquita Fresh
Common Stock
2007-10-27
4
F
0
2996
17.01
D
175291
D
Common Stock
2007-10-29
4
S
0
65000
18
D
110291
D
Common Stock
344
I
by 401(k)
Note 1: Table I, Item l.  Shares withheld, based on the fair market value of the Common Stock on October 26, 2007, to pay required withholding taxes upon the vesting of 7,124 shares covered by a Restricted Stock Award granted October 27, 2005 under the Company's Stock and Incentive Plan. The full award was previously reported.
Note 2:  Table 1, Item 1. The transactions on October 29, 2007 were effected pursuant to a previously reported Rule 10b5-1 trading plan adopted by Mr. Kistinger on June 15, 2007.
Note 3: Table 1, Item 5:  Represents the number of whole units held in the Chiquita Stock Fund of the Company's Savings and Investment Plan, a 401(k) Plan, based on a plan statement dated as of September 30, 2007.
This form is being filed voluntarily by Mr. Kistinger, former President and Chief Operating Officer, Chiquita Fresh Group.  He ceased to be an executive officer on October 25, 2007 and is currently President, Special Assignments.
James E. Thompson as Attorney-in-Fact for Robert F. Kistinger
2007-10-30