Segment Information (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Selected Segment Information and Reconciliations to Consolidated Financial Information [Abstract]
Total assets	$ 809,834,000	$ 811,368,000	$ 809,834,000	$ 811,368,000	$ 832,485,000
Total deposits	627,066,000	592,239,000	627,066,000	592,239,000	$ 629,546,000
Interest income	8,992,000	8,460,000	27,412,000	24,855,000
Interest expense	1,945,000	1,902,000	5,848,000	5,389,000
Net Interest Income	7,047,000	6,558,000	21,564,000	19,466,000
(Credit) provision for loan and lease losses	159,000	578,000	513,000	987,000
Total non-interest Income	431,000	1,189,000	1,885,000	3,469,000
Noninterest Expense	4,866,000	5,001,000	15,412,000	15,268,000
Income tax benefit	80,000	25,000	132,000	85,000
Net Income	2,373,000	2,143,000	7,392,000	6,595,000
Noncontrolling interest	98,000	113,000	298,000	342,000
Net Income Attributable to Royal Bancshares of Pennsylvania, Inc.	$ 2,275,000	2,030,000	$ 7,094,000	6,253,000
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	$ 805,897,000	798,996,000	$ 805,897,000	798,996,000
Total deposits	627,066,000	592,239,000	627,066,000	592,239,000
Interest income	8,972,000	8,417,000	26,852,000	24,663,000
Interest expense	1,938,000	1,752,000	5,744,000	4,932,000
Net Interest Income	7,034,000	6,665,000	21,108,000	19,731,000
(Credit) provision for loan and lease losses	178,000	549,000	596,000	924,000
Total non-interest Income	423,000	1,177,000	2,072,000	3,422,000
Noninterest Expense	4,717,000	4,842,000	15,191,000	14,455,000
Income tax benefit	80,000	25,000	132,000	85,000
Net Income	2,482,000	2,426,000	7,261,000	7,689,000
Noncontrolling interest	98,000	125,000	222,000	394,000
Net Income Attributable to Royal Bancshares of Pennsylvania, Inc.	2,384,000	2,301,000	7,039,000	7,295,000
Tax Lien Segment
Selected Segment Information and Reconciliations to Consolidated Financial Information [Abstract]
Total assets	3,937,000	12,372,000	3,937,000	12,372,000
Total deposits	0	0	0	0
Interest income	20,000	43,000	560,000	192,000
Interest expense	7,000	150,000	104,000	457,000
Net Interest Income	13,000	(107,000)	456,000	(265,000)
(Credit) provision for loan and lease losses	(19,000)	29,000	(83,000)	63,000
Total non-interest Income	8,000	12,000	(187,000)	47,000
Noninterest Expense	149,000	159,000	221,000	813,000
Income tax benefit			0	0
Net Income	(109,000)	(283,000)	131,000	(1,094,000)
Noncontrolling interest	0	(12,000)	76,000	(52,000)
Net Income Attributable to Royal Bancshares of Pennsylvania, Inc.	$ (109,000)	(271,000)	$ 55,000	(1,042,000)
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	$ 7,000	$ 150,000	$ 104,000	$ 457,000