Segment Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Selected Segment Information and Reconciliations to Consolidated Financial Information [Abstract]
Total assets	$ 748,601,000	$ 830,626,000	$ 748,601,000	$ 830,626,000	$ 773,716,000
Total deposits	525,670,000	582,292,000	525,670,000	582,292,000	554,917,000
Interest income	6,743,000	8,423,000	13,495,000	17,229,000
Interest expense	1,797,000	2,517,000	3,777,000	5,330,000
Net Interest Income	4,946,000	5,906,000	9,718,000	11,899,000
(Credit) provision for loan and lease losses	(163,000)	1,515,000	(414,000)	1,599,000
Total other income	961,000	1,945,000	2,369,000	2,606,000
Total other expenses	7,567,000	8,592,000	13,707,000	16,659,000
Income tax expense (benefit)	0	0	0	0
Net Loss	(1,497,000)	(2,256,000)	(1,206,000)	(3,753,000)
Noncontrolling interest	(694,000)	(306,000)	(521,000)	(934,000)
Net loss attributable to Royal Bancshares of Pennsylvania, Inc.	(803,000)	(1,950,000)	(685,000)	(2,819,000)
Community Banking [Member]
Selected Segment Information and Reconciliations to Consolidated Financial Information [Abstract]
Total assets	717,220,000	779,932,000	717,220,000	779,932,000
Total deposits	525,670,000	582,292,000	525,670,000	582,292,000
Interest income	6,077,000	7,074,000	12,026,000	14,291,000
Interest expense	1,415,000	1,811,000	2,965,000	3,712,000
Net Interest Income	4,662,000	5,263,000	9,061,000	10,579,000
(Credit) provision for loan and lease losses	(431,000)	1,334,000	(741,000)	1,443,000
Total other income	550,000	1,797,000	1,712,000	2,586,000
Total other expenses	5,054,000	6,811,000	10,665,000	12,583,000
Income tax expense (benefit)	0	306,000	0	357,000
Net Loss	589,000	(1,391,000)	849,000	(1,218,000)
Noncontrolling interest	140,000	40,000	301,000	80,000
Net loss attributable to Royal Bancshares of Pennsylvania, Inc.	449,000	(1,431,000)	548,000	(1,298,000)
Tax Lien Operation [Member]
Selected Segment Information and Reconciliations to Consolidated Financial Information [Abstract]
Total assets	31,381,000	50,694,000	31,381,000	50,694,000
Total deposits	0	0	0	0
Interest income	666,000	1,349,000	1,469,000	2,938,000
Interest expense	382,000	706,000	812,000	1,618,000
Net Interest Income	284,000	643,000	657,000	1,320,000
(Credit) provision for loan and lease losses	268,000	181,000	327,000	156,000
Total other income	411,000	148,000	657,000	20,000
Total other expenses	2,513,000	1,781,000	3,042,000	4,076,000
Income tax expense (benefit)	0	(306,000)	0	(357,000)
Net Loss	(2,086,000)	(865,000)	(2,055,000)	(2,535,000)
Noncontrolling interest	(834,000)	(346,000)	(822,000)	(1,014,000)
Net loss attributable to Royal Bancshares of Pennsylvania, Inc.	(1,252,000)	(519,000)	(1,233,000)	(1,521,000)
Community Banking Interest [Member]
Selected Segment Information and Reconciliations to Consolidated Financial Information [Abstract]
Interest income	$ 382,000	$ 706,000	$ 812,000	$ 2,000,000