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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2014-09-08</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001559697</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Lonergan Edward F</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>550 SOUTH CALDWELL STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHARLOTTE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>28202</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President and CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2014-09-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>79412</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>337563</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Table I, Item l.  Restricted Stock Award granted pursuant to the Chiquita Stock and Incentive Plan and Amendment to the Employment Agreement entered into with Mr. Lonergan on September 8, 2014.  The shares granted under this award will vest in three equal installments on each of the first three anniversaries of October 8, 2014, provided that Mr. Lonergan is employed by the Company or any of the Company's subsidiaries or serves as the Company's non-executive Chairman on the applicable vesting date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>James E. Thompson as Attorney-in-Fact for Edward F. Lonergan</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2014-09-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0306
4
2014-09-08
0
0000101063
CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL INC
CQB
0001559697
Lonergan Edward F
550 SOUTH CALDWELL STREET
CHARLOTTE
NC
28202
1
1
0
0
President and CEO
Common Stock
2014-09-08
4
A
0
79412
0
A
337563
D
Table I, Item l.  Restricted Stock Award granted pursuant to the Chiquita Stock and Incentive Plan and Amendment to the Employment Agreement entered into with Mr. Lonergan on September 8, 2014.  The shares granted under this award will vest in three equal installments on each of the first three anniversaries of October 8, 2014, provided that Mr. Lonergan is employed by the Company or any of the Company's subsidiaries or serves as the Company's non-executive Chairman on the applicable vesting date.
James E. Thompson as Attorney-in-Fact for Edward F. Lonergan
2014-09-10