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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-02-25</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001187702</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>OLSON ROBERT W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>250 EAST FIFTH ST</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>Senior VP &amp; General Counsel</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-02-25</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>9131</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>28414</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>80</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>by 401(k)</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Note 1: Table I, Item 1: Restricted Stock Award (&quot;Award&quot;) granted February 25, 2005 under the Company's Long-Term Incentive Program (the &quot;LTIP&quot;) which is part of the Amended and Restated Chiquita 2002 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (the &quot;Plan&quot;). The shares granted under this award will vest on January 1, 2006 as long as the reporting person is employed by the Company or any of the Company's subsidiaries on the vesting date.  Vesting of the Award may be accelerated under certain circumstances, including a Change of Control or termination of employment due to death, Disability or Retirement (as each is defined in the Plan).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Note 2: Table I, Item 5: Represents units held in the Chiquita Stock Fund of the Company's Savings and Investment Plan, a 401(k) Plan, based on a plan statement dated as of December 31, 2004.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Barbara Wagner as Attorney-in-Fact for Robert W.Olson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-03-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2005-02-25
0
0000101063
CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL INC
CQB
0001187702
OLSON ROBERT W
250 EAST FIFTH ST
CINCINNATI
OH
45202
0
1
0
0
Senior VP & General Counsel
Common Stock
2005-02-25
4
A
0
9131
0
A
28414
D
Common Stock
80
I
by 401(k)
Note 1: Table I, Item 1: Restricted Stock Award ("Award") granted February 25, 2005 under the Company's Long-Term Incentive Program (the "LTIP") which is part of the Amended and Restated Chiquita 2002 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (the "Plan"). The shares granted under this award will vest on January 1, 2006 as long as the reporting person is employed by the Company or any of the Company's subsidiaries on the vesting date.  Vesting of the Award may be accelerated under certain circumstances, including a Change of Control or termination of employment due to death, Disability or Retirement (as each is defined in the Plan).
Note 2: Table I, Item 5: Represents units held in the Chiquita Stock Fund of the Company's Savings and Investment Plan, a 401(k) Plan, based on a plan statement dated as of December 31, 2004.
Barbara Wagner as Attorney-in-Fact for Robert W.Olson
2005-03-01