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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-10-08</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001559697</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Lonergan Edward F</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>550 SOUTH CALDWELL STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHARLOTTE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>28202</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President &amp; CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-10-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>231065</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>231065</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>7.68</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-10-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1440062</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2012-10-08</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2017-10-07</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1440062</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1440062</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Table I, Item 1. Restricted Stock Award, granted as an inducement grant under New York Stock Exchange Rule 303A pursuant to Mr. Lonergan's employment agreement dated October 1, 2012 between Mr. Lonergan and the Company (the &quot;Employment Agreement&quot;). The shares granted under this award will vest over a two year peiord with 50% becoming exercisable on October 8 in each of 2013 and 2014 provided that Mr. Lonergan is serving the Company or any of the Company's subsidiaries on the applicable vesting date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Table II Item 1.  Granted as an inducement grant under New York Stock Exchange Rule 303A pursuant to Mr. Lonergan's Employment Agreement.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Table II Item 6. Option vests over a 2 year period with one half becoming exercisable on October 8 in each of 2013 and 2014 provided that Mr. Lonergan is serving the Company or any of its subsidiaries on the applicable vesting date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>James E. Thompson as Attorney-in-Fact for Edward F. Lonergan</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-10-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0306
4
2012-10-08
0
0000101063
CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL INC
CQB
0001559697
Lonergan Edward F
550 SOUTH CALDWELL STREET
CHARLOTTE
NC
28202
1
1
0
0
President & CEO
Common Stock
2012-10-08
4
A
0
231065
0
A
231065
D
Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)
7.68
2012-10-08
4
A
0
1440062
0
A
2012-10-08
2017-10-07
Common Stock
1440062
1440062
D
Table I, Item 1. Restricted Stock Award, granted as an inducement grant under New York Stock Exchange Rule 303A pursuant to Mr. Lonergan's employment agreement dated October 1, 2012 between Mr. Lonergan and the Company (the "Employment Agreement"). The shares granted under this award will vest over a two year peiord with 50% becoming exercisable on October 8 in each of 2013 and 2014 provided that Mr. Lonergan is serving the Company or any of the Company's subsidiaries on the applicable vesting date.
Table II Item 1.  Granted as an inducement grant under New York Stock Exchange Rule 303A pursuant to Mr. Lonergan's Employment Agreement.
Table II Item 6. Option vests over a 2 year period with one half becoming exercisable on October 8 in each of 2013 and 2014 provided that Mr. Lonergan is serving the Company or any of its subsidiaries on the applicable vesting date.
James E. Thompson as Attorney-in-Fact for Edward F. Lonergan
2012-10-09