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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-10-18</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001376008</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Singh Manjit</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>VP,Chief Information Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-10-18</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5726</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7726</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 on October 18, 2006 by the Compensation &amp; Organization Development Committee of the Company's Board of Directors pursuant to the Chiquita Stock and Incentive Plan.  The shares granted under this Award will vest over a four year period with 25% vesting on October 18 in each of  2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010. Vesting of the Award may be accelerated under certain circumstances, including a Change of Control or termination of employment due to death, Disability or Retirement (as each is defined in the Plan).</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Barbara Wagner as Attorney-in-Fact for Manjit Singh</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-10-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2006-10-18
0
0000101063
CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL INC
cqb
0001376008
Singh Manjit
250 EAST FIFTH STREET
CINCINNATI
OH
45202
0
1
0
0
VP,Chief Information Officer
Common Stock
2006-10-18
4
A
0
5726
0
A
7726
D
Note 1: Table 1, Item 1: Restricted Stock Award granted on October 18, 2006 by the Compensation & Organization Development Committee of the Company's Board of Directors pursuant to the Chiquita Stock and Incentive Plan.  The shares granted under this Award will vest over a four year period with 25% vesting on October 18 in each of  2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010. Vesting of the Award may be accelerated under certain circumstances, including a Change of Control or termination of employment due to death, Disability or Retirement (as each is defined in the Plan).
Barbara Wagner as Attorney-in-Fact for Manjit Singh
2006-10-20