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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-01-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001277646</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ZAMAN WAHEED</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 Vice President &amp; CIO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-01-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1328</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>20.075</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>13901</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </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 30, 2005, to pay required withholding taxes upon the vesting on January 1, 2006 of a Restricted Stock Award granted February 25, 2005 under the Company's Long-Term Incentive Program.  The full Award was previously reported.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Robert W. Olson as Attorney-in-Fact for Waheed Zaman</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-01-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2006-01-01
0
0000101063
CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL INC
cqb
0001277646
ZAMAN WAHEED
250 EAST FIFTH ST.
CINCINNATI
OH
45202
0
1
0
0
Senior Vice President & CIO
Common Stock
2006-01-01
4
F
0
1328
20.075
D
13901
D
Note 1:  Table I, Item 1.  Shares withheld, based on the fair market value of the Common Stock on December 30, 2005, to pay required withholding taxes upon the vesting on January 1, 2006 of a Restricted Stock Award granted February 25, 2005 under the Company's Long-Term Incentive Program.  The full Award was previously reported.
Robert W. Olson as Attorney-in-Fact for Waheed Zaman
2006-01-03