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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2015-01-06</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</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>550 SOUTH CALDWELL STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHARLOTTE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>28202</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>2015-01-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>U</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>80863</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>14.5</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares disposed in a cash tender offer pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 26, 2014, among Cavendish Global Limited, Cavendish Acquisition Corporation, the Issuer, Burlingtown UK Ltd. and Erichton Investments Ltd. At the effective time of the merger, all shares converted into the right to receive, in cash and without interest, $14.50 per share.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>James E. Thompson as Attorney-in-Fact for Howard W. Barker, Jr.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2015-01-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0306
4
2015-01-06
1
0000101063
CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL INC
CQB
0001216285
BARKER HOWARD W JR
550 SOUTH CALDWELL STREET
CHARLOTTE
NC
28202
1
0
0
0
Common Stock
2015-01-06
4
U
0
80863
14.5
D
0
D
Shares disposed in a cash tender offer pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 26, 2014, among Cavendish Global Limited, Cavendish Acquisition Corporation, the Issuer, Burlingtown UK Ltd. and Erichton Investments Ltd. At the effective time of the merger, all shares converted into the right to receive, in cash and without interest, $14.50 per share.
James E. Thompson as Attorney-in-Fact for Howard W. Barker, Jr.
2015-01-07