Segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 30, 2013
Selected Segment Information and Reconciliations to Consolidated Financial Information [Abstract]
Total assets	$ 832,485				$ 788,283				$ 832,485	$ 788,283
Total deposits	629,546				577,892				629,546	577,892
Interest income	8,561	$ 8,460	$ 8,181	$ 8,214	7,844	$ 7,798	$ 7,071	$ 7,280	33,416	29,993
Interest expense	1,926	1,902	1,764	1,723	1,686	1,636	1,591	1,571	7,315	6,484
Net Interest Income	6,635	6,558	6,417	6,491	6,158	6,162	5,480	5,709	26,101	23,509
(Credit) provision for loan and lease losses	255	578	197	212	634	(216)	(586)	(580)	1,242	(748)
Total non-interest Income	838	1,189	1,073	1,207	1,202	700	1,283	847	4,307	3,113
Noninterest Expense	4,729	5,001	5,046	5,221	5,427	5,365	5,737	5,375	19,997	20,985
Income tax (benefit) expense	(1,881)	25	60		(5,139)				(1,796)	(5,139)
Net Income	4,370	2,143	2,187	2,265	6,438	1,713	1,612	1,761	10,965	11,524
Noncontrolling interest	248	113	153	76	31	179	151	170	590	531
Net Income Attributable to Royal Bancshares of Pennsylvania, Inc.	$ 4,122	$ 2,030	$ 2,034	$ 2,189	6,407	$ 1,534	$ 1,461	$ 1,591	10,375	10,993
Royal Bank [Member]
Selected Segment Information and Reconciliations to Consolidated Financial Information [Abstract]
Net Income Attributable to Royal Bancshares of Pennsylvania, Inc.									$ 10,319	11,134
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	$ 823,779				774,258				$ 823,779	774,258
Total deposits	629,546				577,892				629,546	577,892
Interest income									33,205	29,379
Interest expense									6,760	5,689
Net Interest Income									26,445	23,690
(Credit) provision for loan and lease losses									1,222	(846)
Total non-interest Income									4,249	2,842
Noninterest Expense									19,494	19,751
Income tax (benefit) expense									(1,685)	(5,139)
Net Income									11,662	12,766
Noncontrolling interest									510	602
Net Income Attributable to Royal Bancshares of Pennsylvania, Inc.									11,153	12,164
Tax Lien Segment [Member]
Selected Segment Information and Reconciliations to Consolidated Financial Information [Abstract]
Total assets	$ 8,706				$ 14,025				8,706	14,025
Interest income									211	614
Interest expense									555	795
Net Interest Income									(344)	(181)
(Credit) provision for loan and lease losses									20	98
Total non-interest Income									58	271
Noninterest Expense									503	1,234
Income tax (benefit) expense									(111)
Net Income									(697)	(1,242)
Noncontrolling interest									80	(71)
Net Income Attributable to Royal Bancshares of Pennsylvania, Inc.									$ (778)	(1,171)
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%		60.00%
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%		60.00%
Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Selected Segment Information and Reconciliations to Consolidated Financial Information [Abstract]
Interest income									$ 555	$ 795,000