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

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-10-18</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001250770</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Thompson James E</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>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>SVP, General Counsel &amp; Sec</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-10-18</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>979</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>14.59</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>83783</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-10-18</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>305</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>14.3</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>83478</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Table I, Item l.  Shares withheld, based on the fair market value of the Common Stock on October 18, 2010, to pay required withholding taxes upon the vesting of 3,054 shares pursuant to a Restricted Stock Award granted October 18, 2006 under the Company's Stock and Incentive Plan. The full award was previously reported.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Table I, Item l.  Shares sold pursuant to a previously adopted and disclosed Rule 10b5-1 trading plan in an amount (10%) corresponding to estimated taxes due in excess of amounts withheld upon the vesting of the October 18, 2006 Award referenced above.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>James E. Thompson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-10-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0303
4
2010-10-18
0
0000101063
CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL INC
CQB
0001250770
Thompson James E
250 EAST FIFTH STREET
CINCINNATI
OH
45202
0
1
0
0
SVP, General Counsel & Sec
Common Stock
2010-10-18
4
F
0
979
14.59
D
83783
D
Common Stock
2010-10-18
4
S
0
305
14.3
D
83478
D
Table I, Item l.  Shares withheld, based on the fair market value of the Common Stock on October 18, 2010, to pay required withholding taxes upon the vesting of 3,054 shares pursuant to a Restricted Stock Award granted October 18, 2006 under the Company's Stock and Incentive Plan. The full award was previously reported.
Table I, Item l.  Shares sold pursuant to a previously adopted and disclosed Rule 10b5-1 trading plan in an amount (10%) corresponding to estimated taxes due in excess of amounts withheld upon the vesting of the October 18, 2006 Award referenced above.
James E. Thompson
2010-10-20