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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-09-21</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001216285</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BARKER HOWARD W JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>250 EAST FIFTH STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CINCINNATI</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>45202</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-09-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10051</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10051</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Note 1: Table 1, Item 1:  Restricted Stock Award granted September 21, 2007 to Mr. Barker pursuant to the Chiquita Stock and Incentive Plan upon his initial election to the board as part of the Company's standard compensation package for non-employee directors.  The shares granted under this award will vest 100% on the day that Mr. Barker ceases to be a non-employee director.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>James E. Thompson as Attorney-in-Fact for Howard W. Barker, Jr.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-09-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2007-09-21
0
0000101063
CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL INC
cqb
0001216285
BARKER HOWARD W JR
250 EAST FIFTH STREET
CINCINNATI
OH
45202
1
0
0
0
Common Stock
2007-09-21
4
A
0
10051
0
A
10051
D
Note 1: Table 1, Item 1:  Restricted Stock Award granted September 21, 2007 to Mr. Barker pursuant to the Chiquita Stock and Incentive Plan upon his initial election to the board as part of the Company's standard compensation package for non-employee directors.  The shares granted under this award will vest 100% on the day that Mr. Barker ceases to be a non-employee director.
James E. Thompson as Attorney-in-Fact for Howard W. Barker, Jr.
2007-09-24