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

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-03-19</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001203117</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KISTINGER ROBERT F</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>President &amp; COO Chiquita Fresh</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-03-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3825</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>20.515</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>33787</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>196.437</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By 401(k)</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Note 1: Table 1, Item 4:  Pursuant to the terms of an Award Share Agreement dated February 21, 2002, the Reporting Person was granted the right to receive 25,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, with 50% of the shares deliverable on March 19 in each of 2003 and 2004, subject to continued employment on each date.  Of the 12,500 shares which vested and became deliverable on March 19, 2004, 3,825 shares were withheld to pay required withholding taxes due in respect of the issuance of shares.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Robert W. Olson as Attorney-in-Fact for Robert F. Kistinger</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-03-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0201
4
2004-03-19
0
0000101063
CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL INC
CQB
0001203117
KISTINGER ROBERT F
250 EAST FIFTH ST
CINCINNATI
OH
45202
0
1
0
0
President & COO Chiquita Fresh
Common Stock
2004-03-19
4
F
0
3825
20.515
D
33787
D
Common Stock
196.437
I
By 401(k)
Note 1: Table 1, Item 4:  Pursuant to the terms of an Award Share Agreement dated February 21, 2002, the Reporting Person was granted the right to receive 25,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, with 50% of the shares deliverable on March 19 in each of 2003 and 2004, subject to continued employment on each date.  Of the 12,500 shares which vested and became deliverable on March 19, 2004, 3,825 shares were withheld to pay required withholding taxes due in respect of the issuance of shares.
Robert W. Olson as Attorney-in-Fact for Robert F. Kistinger
2004-03-23