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

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-11-02</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001416857</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Loeb Michel</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>President,Europe &amp; Middle East</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-11-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1286</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>13.65</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>57498</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 November 2, 2008, to pay required withholding taxes upon the vesting of 2,257 shares covered by a Restricted Stock Award granted November 2, 2006 under the Company's Stock and Incentive Plan. The full award was previously reported.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>James E. Thompson, as Attorney-in-Fact for Michel Loeb</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-11-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0303
4
2008-11-02
0
0000101063
CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL INC
CQB
0001416857
Loeb Michel
250 EAST FIFTH STREET
CINCINNATI
OH
45202
0
1
0
0
President,Europe & Middle East
Common Stock
2008-11-02
4
F
0
1286
13.65
D
57498
D
Table I, Item l.  Shares withheld, based on the fair market value of the Common Stock on November 2, 2008, to pay required withholding taxes upon the vesting of 2,257 shares covered by a Restricted Stock Award granted November 2, 2006 under the Company's Stock and Incentive Plan. The full award was previously reported.
James E. Thompson, as Attorney-in-Fact for Michel Loeb
2008-11-03