<?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>0001187702</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>OLSON ROBERT W</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>Senior VP &amp; General Counsel</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>2194</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>20.515</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>22671</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>46.042</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 14,334 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 7,167 shares which vested and became deliverable on March 19, 2004, 2,194 shares were withheld to pay required withholding taxes due in respect of the issuance of shares.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Robert W. Olson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-03-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0201
4
2004-03-19
0
0000101063
CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL INC
CQB
0001187702
OLSON ROBERT W
250 EAST FIFTH ST
CINCINNATI
OH
45202
0
1
0
0
Senior VP & General Counsel
Common Stock
2004-03-19
4
F
0
2194
20.515
D
22671
D
Common Stock
46.042
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 14,334 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 7,167 shares which vested and became deliverable on March 19, 2004, 2,194 shares were withheld to pay required withholding taxes due in respect of the issuance of shares.
Robert W. Olson
2004-03-23