Segment Information (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Selected Segment Information and Reconciliations to Consolidated Financial Information [Abstract]
Total assets	$ 808,755,000	$ 816,452,000	$ 808,755,000	$ 816,452,000	$ 832,485,000
Total deposits	622,821,000	599,244,000	622,821,000	599,244,000	$ 629,546,000
Interest income	9,462,000	8,181,000	18,420,000	16,395,000
Interest expense	1,962,000	1,764,000	3,903,000	3,487,000
Net Interest Income	7,500,000	6,417,000	14,517,000	12,908,000
(Credit) provision for loan and lease losses	57,000	197,000	354,000	409,000
Total non-interest Income	943,000	1,073,000	1,454,000	2,280,000
Noninterest Expense	5,170,000	5,046,000	10,546,000	10,267,000
Income tax benefit	52,000	60,000	52,000	60,000
Net Income	3,164,000	2,187,000	5,019,000	4,452,000
Noncontrolling interest	157,000	153,000	200,000	229,000
Net Income Attributable to Royal Bancshares of Pennsylvania, Inc.	$ 3,007,000	2,034,000	4,819,000	4,223,000
Royal Bank
Selected Segment Information and Reconciliations to Consolidated Financial Information [Abstract]
Net Income Attributable to Royal Bancshares of Pennsylvania, Inc.			$ 5,241,000
Royal Bank | Crusader Servicing Corporation
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Ownership interest (as a percent)	80.00%		80.00%
Community Banking Segment
Selected Segment Information and Reconciliations to Consolidated Financial Information [Abstract]
Total assets	$ 804,652,000	803,262,000	$ 804,652,000	803,262,000
Total deposits	622,821,000	599,244,000	622,821,000	599,244,000
Interest income	9,062,000	8,112,000	17,880,000	16,245,000
Interest expense	1,940,000	1,613,000	3,806,000	3,181,000
Net Interest Income	7,122,000	6,499,000	14,074,000	13,064,000
(Credit) provision for loan and lease losses	66,000	72,000	418,000	375,000
Total non-interest Income	1,101,000	1,055,000	1,649,000	2,245,000
Noninterest Expense	4,982,000	4,775,000	10,474,000	9,614,000
Income tax benefit	52,000	60,000	52,000	60,000
Net Income	3,123,000	2,647,000	4,779,000	5,260,000
Noncontrolling interest	77,000	174,000	124,000	270,000
Net Income Attributable to Royal Bancshares of Pennsylvania, Inc.	3,046,000	2,473,000	4,655,000	4,990,000
Tax Lien Segment
Selected Segment Information and Reconciliations to Consolidated Financial Information [Abstract]
Total assets	4,103,000	13,190,000	4,103,000	13,190,000
Total deposits	0	0	0	0
Interest income	400,000	69,000	540,000	150,000
Interest expense	22,000	151,000	97,000	306,000
Net Interest Income	378,000	(82,000)	443,000	(156,000)
(Credit) provision for loan and lease losses	(9,000)	125,000	(64,000)	34,000
Total non-interest Income	(158,000)	18,000	(195,000)	35,000
Noninterest Expense	188,000	271,000	72,000	653,000
Income tax benefit			0	0
Net Income	41,000	(460,000)	240,000	(808,000)
Noncontrolling interest	80,000	(21,000)	76,000	(41,000)
Net Income Attributable to Royal Bancshares of Pennsylvania, Inc.	$ (39,000)	(439,000)	$ 164,000	(767,000)
Tax Lien Segment | Royal Bank | Crusader Servicing Corporation
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Ownership interest (as a percent)	80.00%		80.00%
Tax Lien Segment | Royal Bank | Royal Tax Lien
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Ownership interest (as a percent)	100.00%		100.00%
Intersegment Eliminations
Selected Segment Information and Reconciliations to Consolidated Financial Information [Abstract]
Interest income	$ 22,000	$ 151,000	$ 97,000	$ 306,000