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

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-10-10</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001232146</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HOLLAND KEVIN</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>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Sr. VP &amp; Chief People Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-10-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>394</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>12.63</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>60501</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1001</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">Table I, Item l.  Shares withheld, based on the fair market value of the Common Stock on October 10, 2008, to pay required withholding taxes upon the vesting of 1,229 shares covered by a Restricted Stock Award granted October 10, 2005 under the Company's Stock and Incentive Plan. The full award was previously reported.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Table 1, Item 5:  Represents the number of whole units held in the Chiquita Stock Fund of the Company's Savings and Investment Plan, a 401(k) Plan, based on a plan statement dated as of September 30, 2008.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>James E. Thompson as Attorney-in-Fact for Kevin R. Holland</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-10-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0303
4
2008-10-10
0
0000101063
CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL INC
CQB
0001232146
HOLLAND KEVIN
250 EAST FIFTH STREET
CINCINNATI
OH
45202
0
1
0
0
Sr. VP & Chief People Officer
Common Stock
2008-10-10
4
F
0
394
12.63
D
60501
D
Common Stock
1001
I
by 401(k)
Table I, Item l.  Shares withheld, based on the fair market value of the Common Stock on October 10, 2008, to pay required withholding taxes upon the vesting of 1,229 shares covered by a Restricted Stock Award granted October 10, 2005 under the Company's Stock and Incentive Plan. The full award was previously reported.
Table 1, Item 5:  Represents the number of whole units held in the Chiquita Stock Fund of the Company's Savings and Investment Plan, a 401(k) Plan, based on a plan statement dated as of September 30, 2008.
James E. Thompson as Attorney-in-Fact for Kevin R. Holland
2008-10-14