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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2013-03-14</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001232146</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HOLLAND KEVIN</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>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>SVP and Chief People Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2013-03-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>31780</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>194636</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3760</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">Table 1, Item.1: Restricted Stock Award granted effective March 14, 2013 pursuant to the Chiquita Stock and Incentive Plan and the Company's Equity-Based Compensation Guidelines.  The shares granted under this Award will vest over a four year period with 25% becoming exercisable on March 14 in each of 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 provided that the Reporting Person is employed by the Company or any of the Company's subsidiaries on the applicable vesting date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Table 1, Item 5: Represents the number of whole 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, 2012.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>James E. Thompson as Attorney-in-Fact for Kevin R. Holland</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2013-03-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0306
4
2013-03-14
0
0000101063
CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL INC
CQB
0001232146
HOLLAND KEVIN
550 SOUTH CALDWELL STREET
CHARLOTTE
NC
28202
0
1
0
0
SVP and Chief People Officer
Common Stock
2013-03-14
4
A
0
31780
0
A
194636
D
Common Stock
3760
I
by 401(k)
Table 1, Item.1: Restricted Stock Award granted effective March 14, 2013 pursuant to the Chiquita Stock and Incentive Plan and the Company's Equity-Based Compensation Guidelines.  The shares granted under this Award will vest over a four year period with 25% becoming exercisable on March 14 in each of 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 provided that the Reporting Person is employed by the Company or any of the Company's subsidiaries on the applicable vesting date.
Table 1, Item 5: Represents the number of whole 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, 2012.
James E. Thompson as Attorney-in-Fact for Kevin R. Holland
2013-03-15