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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2014-03-04</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001319836</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Frier Rick</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>550 SOUTH CALDWELL</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHARLOTTE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>28202</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EVP and Chief FinancialOfficer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2014-03-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>24172</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>55459</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Table 1, Item.1: Restricted Stock Award granted effective March 4, 2014, pursuant to the Chiquita Stock and Incentive Plan and the Company's Equity-Based Compensation Guidelines.  The shares granted under this Award will vest over a four year period with 25% becoming exercisable on March 4 in each of 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 provided that the Reporting Person is employed by the Company or any of the Company's subsidiaries on the applicable vesting date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>James E. Thompson as Attorney-in-Fact for Rick P. Frier</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2014-03-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0306
4
2014-03-04
0
0000101063
CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL INC
CQB
0001319836
Frier Rick
550 SOUTH CALDWELL
CHARLOTTE
NC
28202
0
1
0
0
EVP and Chief FinancialOfficer
Common Stock
2014-03-04
4
A
0
24172
0
A
55459
D
Table 1, Item.1: Restricted Stock Award granted effective March 4, 2014, pursuant to the Chiquita Stock and Incentive Plan and the Company's Equity-Based Compensation Guidelines.  The shares granted under this Award will vest over a four year period with 25% becoming exercisable on March 4 in each of 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 provided that the Reporting Person is employed by the Company or any of the Company's subsidiaries on the applicable vesting date.
James E. Thompson as Attorney-in-Fact for Rick P. Frier
2014-03-06