Document and Entity Information - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Oct. 31, 2016
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	ROYAL BANCSHARES OF PENNSYLVANIA INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000922487
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2016
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Class A - Common stock
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		27,880,024
Class B - Common stock
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		1,924,629