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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-10-18</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001301117</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Rodriguez Manuel</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>SVP Govt &amp; int'l Affairs &amp; CRO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-10-18</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>734</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>16.46</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>38553</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>178</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </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 18, 2007, to pay required withholding taxes upon the vesting of 2,290 shares covered by a Restricted Stock Award granted October 18, 2006 under the Company's Stock and Incentive Plan. The full award was previously reported.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Note 2: 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>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>James E. Thompson as Attorney-in-Fact for Manuel Rodriguez</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-10-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2007-10-18
0
0000101063
CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL INC
cqb
0001301117
Rodriguez Manuel
250 EAST FIFTH ST
CINCINNATI
OH
45202
0
1
0
0
SVP Govt & int'l Affairs & CRO
Common Stock
2007-10-18
4
F
0
734
16.46
D
38553
D
Common Stock
178
I
by 401(k)
Note 1: Table I, Item l.  Shares withheld, based on the fair market value of the Common Stock on October 18, 2007, to pay required withholding taxes upon the vesting of 2,290 shares covered by a Restricted Stock Award granted October 18, 2006 under the Company's Stock and Incentive Plan. The full award was previously reported.
Note 2: 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.
James E. Thompson as Attorney-in-Fact for Manuel Rodriguez
2007-10-22