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

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-11-04</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>SVP Product Supply Org</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-11-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>8910</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>17.02</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>83117</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Table I, Item 1. Sales effected pursuant to a previously adopted and disclosed Rule 10b5-1 trading plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Table 1, Item 4:  The price reporrted in Column 4 is a weighted averge price. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $17.00 to $17.02.  The reporting person hereby undertakes to provide upon request to the SEC staff, the issuer or a security holder of the issuer, full information regarding the number of shares purchased at each separate price within the range set forth above.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Barbara Wagner as Attorney-in-Fact for Waheed Zaman</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-11-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0303
4
2009-11-04
0
0000101063
CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL INC
CQB
0001277646
ZAMAN WAHEED
250 EAST FIFTH ST.
CINCINNATI
OH
45202
0
1
0
0
SVP Product Supply Org
Common Stock
2009-11-04
4
S
0
8910
17.02
D
83117
D
Table I, Item 1. Sales effected pursuant to a previously adopted and disclosed Rule 10b5-1 trading plan.
Table 1, Item 4:  The price reporrted in Column 4 is a weighted averge price. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $17.00 to $17.02.  The reporting person hereby undertakes to provide upon request to the SEC staff, the issuer or a security holder of the issuer, full information regarding the number of shares purchased at each separate price within the range set forth above.
Barbara Wagner as Attorney-in-Fact for Waheed Zaman
2009-11-05