<?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>0001192173</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MORRIS BARRY H</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>Vice President Human Resources</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>2040</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>20.515</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>11644</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>83.014</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 13,333 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 6,666 shares which vested and became deliverable on March 19, 2004, 2,040 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 Barry H. Morris</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-03-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0201
4
2004-03-19
0
0000101063
CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL INC
CQB
0001192173
MORRIS BARRY H
250 EAST FIFTH ST
CINCINNATI
OH
45202
0
1
0
0
Vice President Human Resources
Common Stock
2004-03-19
4
F
0
2040
20.515
D
11644
D
Common Stock
83.014
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 13,333 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 6,666 shares which vested and became deliverable on March 19, 2004, 2,040 shares were withheld to pay required withholding taxes due in respect of the issuance of shares.
Robert W. Olson as Attorney-in-Fact for Barry H. Morris
2004-03-23