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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

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

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001232146</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HOLLAND KEVIN</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>250 EAST FIFTH STREET</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>Sr. VP Human Resources</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-10-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4918</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4918</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Note 1: Table 1, Item 4: Restricted Stock Award granted October 10, 2005, pursuant to the Chiquita 2002 Stock Option and Incentive Plan.  The shares granted under this Award will vest over a four year period with 25% becoming exercisable on October 10 in each of 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 provided that Mr. Holland is employed by the Company or any of the Company's subsidiaries on the applicable vesting date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Robert W.Olson as Attorney-in-Fact for Kevin Holland</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-10-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2005-10-10
0
0000101063
CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL INC
cqb
0001232146
HOLLAND KEVIN
250 EAST FIFTH STREET
CINCINNATI
OH
45202
0
1
0
0
Sr. VP Human Resources
Common Stock
2005-10-10
4
A
0
4918
0
A
4918
D
Note 1: Table 1, Item 4: Restricted Stock Award granted October 10, 2005, pursuant to the Chiquita 2002 Stock Option and Incentive Plan.  The shares granted under this Award will vest over a four year period with 25% becoming exercisable on October 10 in each of 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 provided that Mr. Holland is employed by the Company or any of the Company's subsidiaries on the applicable vesting date.
Robert W.Olson as Attorney-in-Fact for Kevin Holland
2005-10-11