Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited) (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Royal Bancshares of Pennsylvania, Inc
Preferred stock, liquidation value (in dollars per share)	$ 1,000	$ 1,000
Preferred stock, shares authorized (in shares)	500,000	500,000
Preferred stock, shares issued (in shares)	30,407	30,407
Preferred stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	30,407	30,407
Treasury stock, shares (in shares)	498,488	498,488
Common Class A [Member]
Royal Bancshares of Pennsylvania, Inc
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 2	$ 2
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)	18,000,000	18,000,000
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)	11,362,496	11,361,580
Common Class B [Member]
Royal Bancshares of Pennsylvania, Inc
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.1	$ 0.1
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)	3,000,000	3,000,000
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)	2,080,574	2,081,371