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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-06-28</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>CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>250 EAST FIFTH STREET</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>2005-06-28</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>215000</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>2005-06-28</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>90000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Vesting on June 28, 2005 of 30,000 shares upon achievement of an average Fair Market Value of Chiquita's Common Stock of at least $28 per share over a period of 40 consecutive trading days. The remaining 90,000 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 average Fair Market Value of Chiquita's Common Stock achieves a price of at least $30, $32 or $34 per share over any 40 consecutive trading-day period. Due to a formula miscalculation, the administrative staff responsible for monitoring vesting and preparing and filing reports with the SEC did not realize until recently that the shares had vested on June 28, 2005 and therefore failed to timely file Mr. Aguirre's Form 4. The shares were not issued to Mr. Aguirre until March 10, 2006.</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 average Fair Market Value of the 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 so vested equal to a fraction the numerator of which is the number of full and partial years elapsed from 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>2006-03-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2005-06-28
0
0000101063
CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL INC
cqb
0001224983
AGUIRRE FERNANDO
CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL
250 EAST FIFTH STREET
CINCINNATI
OH
45202
1
1
0
0
Chairman, President and CEO
Common Stock
2005-06-28
4
M
0
30000
0
A
215000
D
Common Stock
2590
I
By Minor Children
Restricted Stock Award
0
2005-06-28
4
M
0
30000
0
D
2008-01-12
Common Stock
30000
90000
D
Vesting on June 28, 2005 of 30,000 shares upon achievement of an average Fair Market Value of Chiquita's Common Stock of at least $28 per share over a period of 40 consecutive trading days. The remaining 90,000 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 average Fair Market Value of Chiquita's Common Stock achieves a price of at least $30, $32 or $34 per share over any 40 consecutive trading-day period. Due to a formula miscalculation, the administrative staff responsible for monitoring vesting and preparing and filing reports with the SEC did not realize until recently that the shares had vested on June 28, 2005 and therefore failed to timely file Mr. Aguirre's Form 4. The shares were not issued to Mr. Aguirre until March 10, 2006.
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 average Fair Market Value of the 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 so vested equal to a fraction the numerator of which is the number of full and partial years elapsed from 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
2006-03-14