Segment Information (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Selected Segment Information and Reconciliations to Consolidated Financial Information [Abstract]
Total assets	$ 836,702,000	$ 798,548,000	$ 832,485,000
Total deposits	644,425,000	589,331,000	$ 629,546,000
Interest income	8,958,000	8,214,000
Interest expense	1,941,000	1,723,000
Net Interest Income	7,017,000	6,491,000
(Credit) provision for loan and lease losses	297,000	212,000
Total non-interest Income	511,000	1,207,000
Noninterest Expense	5,376,000	5,221,000
Income tax (benefit) expense	0	0
Net Income	1,855,000	2,265,000
Noncontrolling interest	43,000	76,000
Net Income Attributable to Royal Bancshares of Pennsylvania, Inc.	1,812,000	2,189,000
Royal Bank
Selected Segment Information and Reconciliations to Consolidated Financial Information [Abstract]
Net Income Attributable to Royal Bancshares of Pennsylvania, Inc.	$ 2,055,000
Royal Bank | Crusader Servicing Corporation
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Ownership interest (as a percent)	80.00%
Community Banking Segment
Selected Segment Information and Reconciliations to Consolidated Financial Information [Abstract]
Total assets	$ 829,143,000	784,797,000
Total deposits	644,425,000	589,331,000
Interest income	8,818,000	8,133,000
Interest expense	1,866,000	1,568,000
Net Interest Income	6,952,000	6,565,000
(Credit) provision for loan and lease losses	351,000	303,000
Total non-interest Income	548,000	1,190,000
Noninterest Expense	5,493,000	4,839,000
Net Income	1,656,000	2,613,000
Noncontrolling interest	48,000	96,000
Net Income Attributable to Royal Bancshares of Pennsylvania, Inc.	1,608,000	2,517,000
Tax Lien Segment
Selected Segment Information and Reconciliations to Consolidated Financial Information [Abstract]
Total assets	7,559,000	13,751,000
Total deposits	0	0
Interest income	140,000	81,000
Interest expense	75,000	155,000
Net Interest Income	65,000	(74,000)
(Credit) provision for loan and lease losses	(54,000)	(91,000)
Total non-interest Income	(37,000)	17,000
Noninterest Expense	(117,000)	382,000
Net Income	199,000	(348,000)
Noncontrolling interest	(5,000)	(20,000)
Net Income Attributable to Royal Bancshares of Pennsylvania, Inc.	$ 204,000	(328,000)
Tax Lien Segment | Royal Bank | Crusader Servicing Corporation
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Ownership interest (as a percent)	80.00%
Tax Lien Segment | Royal Bank | Royal Tax Lien
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Ownership interest (as a percent)	100.00%
Intersegment Eliminations
Selected Segment Information and Reconciliations to Consolidated Financial Information [Abstract]
Interest income	$ 75,000	$ 155,000