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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-12-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001224983</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>AGUIRRE FERNANDO</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>250 EAST FIFTH STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CINCINNATI</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>45202</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman, President and CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-12-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>83377</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>404787</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5690</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>by Children</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Note 1: Table 1, Item 1: Restricted Stock Award granted on December 1, 2007 by the Company's Board of Directors pursuant to the Chiquita Stock and Incentive Plan, as contemplated by the Employment Letter Agreement dated April 15, 2007. The shares granted under this Award will vest (subject to continued employment)  in four installments, with one-fourth vesting on August 7 (the date on which awards that were granted in 2007 to other executive officers will vest) in each of 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011. Vesting of the Award may be accelerated under certain circumstances, including a change of control or termination of employment due to death or disability.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Barbara Wagner as Attorney-in-Fact for Fernando Aguirre</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-12-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2007-12-01
0
0000101063
CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL INC
cqb
0001224983
AGUIRRE FERNANDO
CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL
250 EAST FIFTH STREET
CINCINNATI
OH
45202
1
1
0
0
Chairman, President and CEO
Common Stock
2007-12-01
4
A
0
83377
0
A
404787
D
Common Stock
5690
I
by Children
Note 1: Table 1, Item 1: Restricted Stock Award granted on December 1, 2007 by the Company's Board of Directors pursuant to the Chiquita Stock and Incentive Plan, as contemplated by the Employment Letter Agreement dated April 15, 2007. The shares granted under this Award will vest (subject to continued employment)  in four installments, with one-fourth vesting on August 7 (the date on which awards that were granted in 2007 to other executive officers will vest) in each of 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011. Vesting of the Award may be accelerated under certain circumstances, including a change of control or termination of employment due to death or disability.
Barbara Wagner as Attorney-in-Fact for Fernando Aguirre
2007-12-04