SUMMARY OF QUARTERLY RESULTS (UNAUDITED) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013 Property	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Summary of the consolidated results of operations on a quarterly basis [Abstract]
Interest income	$ 7,069,000	$ 6,960,000	$ 6,743,000	$ 6,752,000	$ 6,991,000	$ 7,761,000	$ 8,423,000	$ 8,806,000	$ 27,524,000	$ 31,981,000
Net interest income	5,379,000	5,070,000	4,946,000	4,772,000	4,801,000	5,382,000	5,906,000	5,993,000	20,167,000	22,082,000
(Credit) provision for loan and lease losses	(676,000)	218,000	(163,000)	(251,000)	2,637,000	1,761,000	1,515,000	84,000	(872,000)	5,997,000
Net Interest Income after (Credit) Provision for Loan and Lease Losses	6,055,000	4,852,000	5,109,000	5,023,000	2,164,000	3,621,000	4,391,000	5,909,000	21,039,000	16,085,000
Other income	2,558,000	1,937,000	961,000	1,408,000	(148,000)	1,151,000	1,945,000	661,000	6,864,000	3,609,000
Other expenses	6,333,000	6,290,000	7,567,000	6,140,000	10,256,000	9,409,000	8,592,000	8,067,000	26,330,000	36,324,000
Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes	2,280,000	499,000	(1,497,000)	291,000	(8,240,000)	(4,637,000)	(2,256,000)	(1,497,000)	1,573,000	(16,630,000)
Income tax expense	42,000	0	0	0					42,000	0
Net income (loss) from continuing operations	2,238,000	499,000	(1,497,000)	291,000	(8,240,000)	(4,637,000)	(2,256,000)	(1,497,000)	1,531,000	(16,630,000)
Less net (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(214,000)	157,000	(694,000)	173,000	(246,000)	175,000	(306,000)	(628,000)	(578,000)	(1,005,000)
Net income (loss) attributable to Royal Bancshares of Pennsylavania, Inc.	2,452,000	342,000	(803,000)	118,000	(7,994,000)	(4,812,000)	(1,950,000)	(869,000)	2,109,000	(15,625,000)
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders	1,930,000	(178,000)	(1,321,000)	(397,000)	(8,507,000)	(5,323,000)	(2,458,000)	(1,375,000)	34,000	(17,663,000)
Net income (loss) per common share [Abstract]
Basic and diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.14	$ (0.01)	$ (0.10)	$ (0.03)	$ (0.64)	$ (0.40)	$ (0.19)	$ (0.10)	$ 0	$ (1.33)
Quarterly Financial Information, Explanatory Disclosure [Abstract]
Drop in credit related expenses	3,600,000								7,400,000
Decrease in the provision for loan and lease losses	3,300,000								6,900,000
Decline in OTTI charge	1,500,000								2,400,000
Gain on sale of entity owned buildings	1,300,000
Number of entity owned buildings sold	2
Increase in net interest income	$ 578,000