Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited) (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Royal Bancshares of Pennsylvania, Inc. equity
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
Common Class A [Member]
Royal Bancshares of Pennsylvania, Inc. equity
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)	11,369,942	11,361,580
Treasury stock, shares (in shares)	498,488	498,488
Common Class B [Member]
Royal Bancshares of Pennsylvania, Inc. equity
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)	2,074,099	2,081,371