Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - $ / shares	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
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 outstanding (in shares)	14,856	18,856
Class A - Common stock
Royal Bancshares of Pennsylvania, Inc. equity:
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 2	$ 2
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)	40,000,000	40,000,000
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)	28,224,182	28,204,182
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding	28,224,182	28,204,182
Treasury stock, shares (in shares)	359,497	375,333
Class B - Common stock
Royal Bancshares of Pennsylvania, Inc. equity:
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.10	$ 0.10
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)	3,000,000	3,000,000
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)	1,928,289	1,928,289
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding	1,928,289	1,928,289