Segment Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Ownership interest (as a percent)	60.00%		60.00%
Selected Segment Information and Reconciliations to Consolidated Financial Information [Abstract]
Total assets	$ 723,469,000	$ 737,000,000	$ 723,469,000	$ 737,000,000	$ 732,254,000
Total deposits	515,786,000	522,620,000	515,786,000	522,620,000	528,964,000
Interest income	7,191,000	6,960,000	21,551,000	20,455,000
Interest expense	1,623,000	1,890,000	4,870,000	5,667,000
Net Interest Income	5,568,000	5,070,000	16,681,000	14,788,000
(Credit) provision for loan and lease losses	(51,000)	218,000	(765,000)	(196,000)
Total non-interest Income	1,204,000	1,937,000	2,792,000	4,306,000
Noninterest Expense	5,375,000	6,290,000	15,728,000	19,997,000
Net Income (Loss)	1,448,000	499,000	4,510,000	(707,000)
Noncontrolling interest	25,000	157,000	212,000	(364,000)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Royal Bancshares of Pennsylvania, Inc.	1,423,000	342,000	4,298,000	(343,000)
Royal Bank [Member]
Selected Segment Information and Reconciliations to Consolidated Financial Information [Abstract]
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Royal Bancshares of Pennsylvania, Inc.			4,238,000
Royal Bank [Member] | Crusader Servicing Corporation [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Ownership interest (as a percent)	80.00%	60.00%	80.00%	60.00%
Royal Bank [Member] | Royal Tax Lien [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Ownership interest (as a percent)		60.00%		60.00%
Community Banking Segment [Member]
Selected Segment Information and Reconciliations to Consolidated Financial Information [Abstract]
Total assets	701,803,000	708,864,000	701,803,000	708,864,000
Total deposits	515,786,000	522,620,000	515,786,000	522,620,000
Interest income	6,889,000	6,485,000	20,549,000	18,556,000
Interest expense	1,367,000	1,560,000	4,030,000	4,525,000
Net Interest Income	5,522,000	4,925,000	16,519,000	14,031,000
(Credit) provision for loan and lease losses	(79,000)	178,000	(911,000)	(563,000)
Total non-interest Income	987,000	1,344,000	2,019,000	3,056,000
Noninterest Expense	4,916,000	5,683,000	14,221,000	16,348,000
Net Income (Loss)	1,672,000	408,000	5,228,000	1,302,000
Noncontrolling interest	69,000	121,000	337,000	422,000
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Royal Bancshares of Pennsylvania, Inc.	1,603,000	287,000	4,891,000	880,000
Tax Lien Segment [Member]
Selected Segment Information and Reconciliations to Consolidated Financial Information [Abstract]
Total assets	21,666,000	28,136,000	21,666,000	28,136,000
Interest income	302,000	475,000	1,002,000	1,899,000
Interest expense	256,000	330,000	840,000	1,142,000
Net Interest Income	46,000	145,000	162,000	757,000
(Credit) provision for loan and lease losses	28,000	40,000	146,000	367,000
Total non-interest Income	217,000	593,000	773,000	1,250,000
Noninterest Expense	459,000	607,000	1,507,000	3,649,000
Net Income (Loss)	(224,000)	91,000	(718,000)	(2,009,000)
Noncontrolling interest	(44,000)	36,000	(125,000)	(786,000)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Royal Bancshares of Pennsylvania, Inc.	(180,000)	55,000	(593,000)	(1,223,000)
Tax Lien Segment [Member] | Royal Bank [Member] | Crusader Servicing Corporation [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Ownership interest (as a percent)	80.00%	60.00%	80.00%	60.00%
Tax Lien Segment [Member] | Royal Bank [Member] | Royal Tax Lien [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Ownership interest (as a percent)	100.00%	60.00%	100.00%	60.00%
Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Selected Segment Information and Reconciliations to Consolidated Financial Information [Abstract]
Interest income	$ 256,000	$ 330,000	$ 840,000	$ 1,100,000