Document and Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Feb. 28, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	ROYAL BANCSHARES OF PENNSYLVANIA INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000922487
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2016
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Public Float			$ 43,485,825
Class A - Common stock
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		27,913,024
Class B - Common stock
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		1,924,629