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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-12-29</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001198717</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SERRA PUCHE JAIME</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O DECHERT,1775 EYE STREET NW</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1775 EYE STREET NW</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WASHINGTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>DC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>20006</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-12-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>391</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>12872</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-01-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2500</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>15372</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Table I, Item 4:  Represents fees for service as a member of the Board of Directors which are paid each quarter in arrears, half in cash and half in shares of Common Stock.  Each quarterly payment consists of $6,250 in cash and a number of shares of Common Stock having an aggregate fair market value of $6,250.  The fair market value of a share of Common Stock is the closing price of the Common Stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange Composite Tape on the last trading day of the calendar quarter.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Note 2: Table 1, Item 4:  Annual Restricted Stock Award granted January 2, 2007 pursuant to the non-employee director restricted stock program under the Chiquita Stock and Incentive Plan.  The shares granted under this award will vest 100% on the day that Mr. Serra ceases to be a non-employee director.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>James E. Thompson as Attorney-in-Fact for Jaime Serra</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-01-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2006-12-29
0
0000101063
CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL INC
cqb
0001198717
SERRA PUCHE JAIME
C/O DECHERT,1775 EYE STREET NW
1775 EYE STREET NW
WASHINGTON
DC
20006
1
0
0
0
Common Stock
2006-12-29
4
A
0
391
0
A
12872
D
Common Stock
2007-01-02
4
A
0
2500
0
A
15372
D
Table I, Item 4:  Represents fees for service as a member of the Board of Directors which are paid each quarter in arrears, half in cash and half in shares of Common Stock.  Each quarterly payment consists of $6,250 in cash and a number of shares of Common Stock having an aggregate fair market value of $6,250.  The fair market value of a share of Common Stock is the closing price of the Common Stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange Composite Tape on the last trading day of the calendar quarter.
Note 2: Table 1, Item 4:  Annual Restricted Stock Award granted January 2, 2007 pursuant to the non-employee director restricted stock program under the Chiquita Stock and Incentive Plan.  The shares granted under this award will vest 100% on the day that Mr. Serra ceases to be a non-employee director.
James E. Thompson as Attorney-in-Fact for Jaime Serra
2007-01-03