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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-07-13</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001224983</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>AGUIRRE FERNANDO</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>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman,President and CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-07-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>30000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>170000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2590</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Minor Children</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Award</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-07-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>30000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2008-01-12</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>30000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>120000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Vesting of 30,000 shares upon achievement of a Fair Market Value of Chiquita's Common Stock (calculated as the average of the high and low selling prices on the New York Stock Exchange) of at least $26 per share over a period of 40 consecutive trading days.  The remaining 120,000 shares granted under this award will vest, if at all, prior to January 12, 2008 (i) upon Mr. Aguirre's death or Disability; (ii) upon a Change of Control; or (iii) in additional increments of 30,000 shares, in each case if and when the Fair Market Value of Chiquita's Common Stock achieves a price of at least $28, $30, $32 or $34 per share over any 40 consecutive trading-day period.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">If, prior to January 12, 2008, Mr. Aguirre's Service with the Company terminates for Good Reason or is terminated by the Company other than for Cause and between the date of termination and January 12, 2008 the Fair Market Value of Chiquita's Common Stock, calculated as set forth above, achieves one or more of the reference prices which would lead to vesting of shares under this award, then Mr. Aguirre will be entitled to receive that number of shares which would have vested had his service not so terminated by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of full and partial years elapsed from and including January 12, 2004 to the date of termination and the denominator of which is four (4).  Any Shares not vested on January 12, 2008 will be forfeited.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Robert W. Olson as Attorney-in-Fact for Fernando Aguirre</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-07-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2005-07-13
0
0000101063
CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL INC
cqb
0001224983
AGUIRRE FERNANDO
250 EAST FIFTH STREET
CINCINNATI
OH
45202
1
1
0
0
Chairman,President and CEO
Common Stock
2005-07-13
4
M
0
30000
0
A
170000
D
Common Stock
2590
I
By Minor Children
Restricted Stock Award
0
2005-07-13
4
M
0
30000
0
D
2008-01-12
Common Stock
30000
120000
D
Vesting of 30,000 shares upon achievement of a Fair Market Value of Chiquita's Common Stock (calculated as the average of the high and low selling prices on the New York Stock Exchange) of at least $26 per share over a period of 40 consecutive trading days.  The remaining 120,000 shares granted under this award will vest, if at all, prior to January 12, 2008 (i) upon Mr. Aguirre's death or Disability; (ii) upon a Change of Control; or (iii) in additional increments of 30,000 shares, in each case if and when the Fair Market Value of Chiquita's Common Stock achieves a price of at least $28, $30, $32 or $34 per share over any 40 consecutive trading-day period.
If, prior to January 12, 2008, Mr. Aguirre's Service with the Company terminates for Good Reason or is terminated by the Company other than for Cause and between the date of termination and January 12, 2008 the Fair Market Value of Chiquita's Common Stock, calculated as set forth above, achieves one or more of the reference prices which would lead to vesting of shares under this award, then Mr. Aguirre will be entitled to receive that number of shares which would have vested had his service not so terminated by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of full and partial years elapsed from and including January 12, 2004 to the date of termination and the denominator of which is four (4).  Any Shares not vested on January 12, 2008 will be forfeited.
Robert W. Olson as Attorney-in-Fact for Fernando Aguirre
2005-07-15