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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2014-04-29</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001319836</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Frier Rick</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>550 SOUTH CALDWELL</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHARLOTTE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>28202</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EVP &amp; Chief Financial Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2014-04-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2593</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>11.56</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>52866</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Table I, Item 1.  Shares withheld, based on the fair market value of the Common Stock on April 29, 2014, to pay required withholding taxes upon the vesting of 7,821 shares pursuant to a Restricted Stock Award granted April 29, 2013 under the Company's Stock and Incentive Plan.  The full award was previously reported.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>James E. Thompson as Attorney-in-Fact for Rick P. Frier</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2014-04-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0306
4
2014-04-29
0
0000101063
CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL INC
CQB
0001319836
Frier Rick
550 SOUTH CALDWELL
CHARLOTTE
NC
28202
0
1
0
0
EVP & Chief Financial Officer
Common Stock
2014-04-29
4
F
0
2593
11.56
D
52866
D
Table I, Item 1.  Shares withheld, based on the fair market value of the Common Stock on April 29, 2014, to pay required withholding taxes upon the vesting of 7,821 shares pursuant to a Restricted Stock Award granted April 29, 2013 under the Company's Stock and Incentive Plan.  The full award was previously reported.
James E. Thompson as Attorney-in-Fact for Rick P. Frier
2014-04-30