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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2014-03-09</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001321946</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Kocher Brian W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>550 SOUTH CALDWELL STREET</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 and Chief OperatingOfficer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2014-03-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>46126</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>250948</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Table 1, Item 1:  Restricted Stock Award granted effective March 9, 2014, pursuant to the Chiquita Stock and Incentive Plan and the Company's Equity-Based Compensation Guidelines. The shares granted under this Award will vest on the second anniversary of the closing of proposed transaction with Fyffes plc, provided that the Reporting Person is employed by the Company or any successor or any of the Company's subsidiaries on the applicable vesting date. The Award will be forfieted if the transaction is not completed.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>James E. Thompson as Attorney-in-Fact for Brian W. Kocher</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2014-03-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0306
4
2014-03-09
0
0000101063
CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL INC
CQB
0001321946
Kocher Brian W
550 SOUTH CALDWELL STREET
CHARLOTTE
NC
28202
0
1
0
0
EVP and Chief OperatingOfficer
Common Stock
2014-03-09
4
A
0
46126
0
A
250948
D
Table 1, Item 1:  Restricted Stock Award granted effective March 9, 2014, pursuant to the Chiquita Stock and Incentive Plan and the Company's Equity-Based Compensation Guidelines. The shares granted under this Award will vest on the second anniversary of the closing of proposed transaction with Fyffes plc, provided that the Reporting Person is employed by the Company or any successor or any of the Company's subsidiaries on the applicable vesting date. The Award will be forfieted if the transaction is not completed.
James E. Thompson as Attorney-in-Fact for Brian W. Kocher
2014-03-11