Segment Information (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Selected Segment Information and Reconciliations to Consolidated Financial Information [Abstract]
Total assets	$ 761,911,000	$ 723,469,000	$ 761,911,000	$ 723,469,000	$ 732,553,000
Total deposits	553,764,000	515,786,000	553,764,000	515,786,000	$ 530,425,000
Interest income	7,798,000	7,191,000	22,149,000	21,551,000
Interest expense	1,636,000	1,623,000	4,798,000	4,870,000
Net Interest Income	6,162,000	5,568,000	17,351,000	16,681,000
(Credit) provision for loan and lease losses	(216,000)	(51,000)	(1,382,000)	(765,000)
Total non-interest Income	700,000	1,204,000	2,830,000	2,792,000
Noninterest Expense	5,365,000	5,375,000	16,477,000	15,728,000
Net Income	1,713,000	1,448,000	5,086,000	4,510,000
Noncontrolling interest	179,000	25,000	500,000	212,000
Net Income Attributable to Royal Bancshares of Pennsylvania, Inc.	$ 1,534,000	1,423,000	4,586,000	4,298,000
Royal Bank [Member]
Selected Segment Information and Reconciliations to Consolidated Financial Information [Abstract]
Net Income Attributable to Royal Bancshares of Pennsylvania, Inc.			$ 4,611,000
Royal Bank [Member] | Crusader Servicing Corporation [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Ownership interest (as a percent)	80.00%		80.00%
Community Banking Segment [Member]
Selected Segment Information and Reconciliations to Consolidated Financial Information [Abstract]
Total assets	$ 745,853,000	701,803,000	$ 745,853,000	701,803,000
Total deposits	553,764,000	515,786,000	553,764,000	515,786,000
Interest income	7,625,000	6,889,000	21,642,000	20,549,000
Interest expense	1,447,000	1,367,000	4,169,000	4,030,000
Net Interest Income	6,178,000	5,522,000	17,473,000	16,519,000
(Credit) provision for loan and lease losses	(254,000)	(79,000)	(1,451,000)	(911,000)
Total non-interest Income	538,000	987,000	1,924,000	2,019,000
Noninterest Expense	4,932,000	4,916,000	14,880,000	14,221,000
Net Income	2,038,000	1,672,000	5,968,000	5,228,000
Noncontrolling interest	179,000	69,000	551,000	337,000
Net Income Attributable to Royal Bancshares of Pennsylvania, Inc.	1,859,000	1,603,000	5,417,000	4,891,000
Tax Lien Segment [Member]
Selected Segment Information and Reconciliations to Consolidated Financial Information [Abstract]
Total assets	16,058,000	21,666,000	16,058,000	21,666,000
Interest income	173,000	302,000	507,000	1,002,000
Interest expense	189,000	256,000	629,000	840,000
Net Interest Income	(16,000)	46,000	(122,000)	162,000
(Credit) provision for loan and lease losses	38,000	28,000	69,000	146,000
Total non-interest Income	162,000	217,000	906,000	773,000
Noninterest Expense	433,000	459,000	1,597,000	1,507,000
Net Income	(325,000)	(224,000)	(882,000)	(718,000)
Noncontrolling interest		(44,000)	(51,000)	(125,000)
Net Income Attributable to Royal Bancshares of Pennsylvania, Inc.	$ (325,000)	(180,000)	$ (831,000)	(593,000)
Tax Lien Segment [Member] | Royal Bank [Member] | Crusader Servicing Corporation [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Ownership interest (as a percent)	80.00%		80.00%
Tax Lien Segment [Member] | Royal Bank [Member] | Royal Tax Lien [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Ownership interest (as a percent)	100.00%		100.00%
Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Selected Segment Information and Reconciliations to Consolidated Financial Information [Abstract]
Interest income	$ 189,000	$ 256,000	$ 629,000	$ 840,000