Segment Information (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Selected Segment Information and Reconciliations to Consolidated Financial Information [Abstract]
Total assets	$ 816,452,000	$ 727,204,000	$ 816,452,000	$ 727,204,000	$ 788,283,000
Total deposits	599,244,000	531,510,000	599,244,000	531,510,000	$ 577,892,000
Interest income	8,181,000	7,071,000	16,395,000	14,351,000
Interest expense	1,764,000	1,591,000	3,487,000	3,162,000
Net Interest Income	6,417,000	5,480,000	12,908,000	11,189,000
(Credit) provision for loan and lease losses	197,000	(586,000)	409,000	(1,166,000)
Total non-interest Income	1,073,000	917,000	2,280,000	1,484,000
Noninterest Expense	5,046,000	5,371,000	10,267,000	10,466,000
Income tax (benefit) expense	60,000	0	60,000	0
Net Income	2,187,000	1,612,000	4,452,000	3,373,000
Noncontrolling interest	153,000	151,000	229,000	321,000
Net Income Attributable to Royal Bancshares of Pennsylvania, Inc.	$ 2,034,000	1,461,000	4,223,000	3,052,000
Royal Bank [Member]
Selected Segment Information and Reconciliations to Consolidated Financial Information [Abstract]
Net Income Attributable to Royal Bancshares of Pennsylvania, Inc.			$ 3,902,000
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	$ 803,262,000	709,612,000	$ 803,262,000	709,612,000
Total deposits	599,244,000	531,510,000	599,244,000	531,510,000
Interest income	8,112,000	6,980,000	16,245,000	14,017,000
Interest expense	1,613,000	1,378,000	3,181,000	2,722,000
Net Interest Income	6,499,000	5,602,000	13,064,000	11,295,000
(Credit) provision for loan and lease losses	72,000	(536,000)	375,000	(1,197,000)
Total non-interest Income	1,055,000	847,000	2,245,000	1,360,000
Noninterest Expense	4,775,000	5,072,000	9,614,000	9,922,000
Income tax (benefit) expense	60,000		60,000	0
Net Income	2,647,000	1,913,000	5,261,000	3,930,000
Noncontrolling interest	174,000	183,000	270,000	372,000
Net Income Attributable to Royal Bancshares of Pennsylvania, Inc.	2,473,000	1,730,000	4,991,000	3,558,000
Tax Lien Segment [Member]
Selected Segment Information and Reconciliations to Consolidated Financial Information [Abstract]
Total assets	13,190,000	17,592,000	13,190,000	17,592,000
Total deposits	0	0	0	0
Interest income	69,000	91,000	150,000	334,000
Interest expense	151,000	213,000	306,000	440,000
Net Interest Income	(82,000)	(122,000)	(156,000)	(106,000)
(Credit) provision for loan and lease losses	125,000	(50,000)	34,000	31,000
Total non-interest Income	18,000	70,000	35,000	124,000
Noninterest Expense	271,000	299,000	653,000	544,000
Income tax (benefit) expense			0	0
Net Income	(460,000)	(301,000)	(809,000)	(557,000)
Noncontrolling interest	(21,000)	(32,000)	(41,000)	(51,000)
Net Income Attributable to Royal Bancshares of Pennsylvania, Inc.	$ (439,000)	(269,000)	$ (768,000)	(506,000)
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	$ 151,000	$ 213,000	$ 306,000	$ 440,000