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

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-11-21</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 E. 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>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-11-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>9.82</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>21232</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Table 1. Item 4:  The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price.  These shares were purchased in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $9.59 to $9.88.  The price reported reflects the weighted average purchase price.  The reporting person hereby undertakes to provide upon request to the SEC staff, the issuer or a security holder of the issuer, full information regarding the number of shares purchased at each separate price within the range set forth above.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>James E. Thompson, Attorney-in-Fact for Howard W. Barker, Jr.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-11-25</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0303
4
2008-11-21
0
0000101063
CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL INC
CQB
0001216285
BARKER HOWARD W JR
250 E. FIFTH STREET
CINCINNATI
OH
45202
1
0
0
0
Common Stock
2008-11-21
4
P
0
10000
9.82
A
21232
D
Table 1. Item 4:  The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price.  These shares were purchased in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $9.59 to $9.88.  The price reported reflects the weighted average purchase price.  The reporting person hereby undertakes to provide upon request to the SEC staff, the issuer or a security holder of the issuer, full information regarding the number of shares purchased at each separate price within the range set forth above.
James E. Thompson, Attorney-in-Fact for Howard W. Barker, Jr.
2008-11-25