Document and Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Oct. 31, 2014 Common Class A [Member]	Oct. 31, 2014 Common Class B [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	ROYAL BANCSHARES OF PENNSYLVANIA INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000922487
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		27,801,904	1,931,692
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2014
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2014