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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-01-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001187702</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>OLSON ROBERT W</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>Senior VP &amp; General Counsel</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-01-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3388</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>22</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>19283</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>80.697</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 1.  Shares withheld, based on the fair market value of the Common Stock on December 31, 2004, to pay required withholding taxes upon the vesting on January 1, 2005 of a Restricted Stock Award granted February 20, 2004 under the Company's Long-Term Incentive Program.  The full Award was previously reported.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Note 2:  Table I, Item 5.  Represents units held in the Chiquita Common Stock Fund of the Company's Savings and Investment Plan, a 401(k) plan, based on a Plan statement dated as of September 30, 2004.  The Plan converted to unitized accounting effective May 28, 2004.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Robert W. Olson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-01-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2005-01-01
0
0000101063
CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL INC
cqb
0001187702
OLSON ROBERT W
250 EAST FIFTH ST
CINCINNATI
OH
45202
0
1
0
0
Senior VP & General Counsel
Common Stock
2005-01-01
4
F
0
3388
22
D
19283
D
Common Stock
80.697
I
By 401(k)
Note 1:  Table I, Item 1.  Shares withheld, based on the fair market value of the Common Stock on December 31, 2004, to pay required withholding taxes upon the vesting on January 1, 2005 of a Restricted Stock Award granted February 20, 2004 under the Company's Long-Term Incentive Program.  The full Award was previously reported.
Note 2:  Table I, Item 5.  Represents units held in the Chiquita Common Stock Fund of the Company's Savings and Investment Plan, a 401(k) plan, based on a Plan statement dated as of September 30, 2004.  The Plan converted to unitized accounting effective May 28, 2004.
Robert W. Olson
2005-01-04