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Speaking alongside Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban Thursday in Budapest, Erdogan said Turkey cannot bear the burden of housing refugees alone.
Turkey hosts the largest number of refugees in the world, with about 3.6 million Syrian citizens registered, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said.
Part of Turkey's strategy when it conquered northeast Syria in October was to establish a safe area there, where would resettle two million Syrian refugees.
This plan is not supported by human rights groups and European countries and has received largely negative feedback from other NATO member states.
With a 2016 deal with the EU, Turkey has pledged to accept any undocumented migrants who would go to the EU from Turkey.
In return, Ankara received $ 3.3 billion in immediate assistance and the same amount at the end of 2018.
However, Erdogan, according to his calculations, said Turkey has spent $ 40 billion to support refugees.
"Whether we get support or not, we will continue to help the guests we wait for. But if that doesn't work, then we'll have to open the doors," Erdogan said.
He made similar threats in September.
In 2015, Europe has experienced its worst migrant crisis since World War II. Over a million people, mostly fleeing the wars in the Middle East, have entered the continent.