diff --git a/samples/subsys/usb/shell/README.rst b/samples/subsys/usb/shell/README.rst
index a9e2f20087d..09a57d25206 100644
--- a/samples/subsys/usb/shell/README.rst
+++ b/samples/subsys/usb/shell/README.rst
@@ -22,6 +22,28 @@ built like:
    :goals: flash
    :compact:
 
+For the USB host functionality a supported host controller is required,
+currently it is only MAX3421E. The example can be built as follows:
+
+.. zephyr-app-commands::
+   :zephyr-app: samples/subsys/usb/shell
+   :board: nrf52840dk_nrf52840
+   :shield: sparkfun_max3421e
+   :gen-args: -DCONFIG_UHC_DRIVER=y -DCONFIG_USB_HOST_STACK=y
+   :goals: flash
+   :compact:
+
+It is theoretically possible to build USB support using virtual USB controllers
+for all platforms, eventually the devicetree overlay has to be adjusted slightly if
+the platform has already defined or not `zephyr_uhc0` or `zephyr_udc0` nodelabels.
+
+.. zephyr-app-commands::
+   :zephyr-app: samples/subsys/usb/shell
+   :board: nrf52840dk_nrf52840
+   :gen-args: -DOVERLAY_CONFIG=virtual.conf -DDTC_OVERLAY_FILE=virtual.overlay
+   :goals: flash
+   :compact:
+
 Sample shell interaction
 ========================
 
@@ -34,5 +56,30 @@ Sample shell interaction
    dev: added USB class foobaz to configuration 1
    uart:~$ usbd init
    dev: USB initialized
+   uart:~$ usbh init
+   host: USB host initialized
+   uart:~$ usbh enable
+   host: USB host enabled
+   [611:00:28.620,000] <wrn> usbd_core: VBUS detected event
+   uart:~$ usbh bus resume
+   host: USB bus resumed
    uart:~$ usbd enable
+   host: USB device connected
    dev: USB enabled
+   uart:~$ usbh device descriptor device 0
+   host: transfer finished 0x20006250, err 0
+   00000000: 80 06 00 01 00 00 12 00                          |........         |
+   bLength			18
+   bDescriptorType		1
+   bcdUSB			200
+   bDeviceClass	        	239
+   bDeviceSubClass		2
+   bDeviceProtocol		1
+   bMaxPacketSize0		64
+   idVendor		        2fe3
+   idProduct		        ffff
+   bcdDevice		        301
+   iManufacturer		1
+   iProduct		        2
+   iSerial			3
+   bNumConfigurations           1
diff --git a/samples/subsys/usb/shell/boards/qemu_cortex_m3.conf b/samples/subsys/usb/shell/boards/qemu_cortex_m3.conf
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..58132f17be8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/samples/subsys/usb/shell/boards/qemu_cortex_m3.conf
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+# Copyright (c) 2022 Nordic Semiconductor ASA
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+
+CONFIG_UHC_DRIVER=y
+CONFIG_USB_HOST_STACK=y
diff --git a/samples/subsys/usb/shell/boards/qemu_cortex_m3.overlay b/samples/subsys/usb/shell/boards/qemu_cortex_m3.overlay
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..5136e0a0b47
--- /dev/null
+++ b/samples/subsys/usb/shell/boards/qemu_cortex_m3.overlay
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (c) 2022 Nordic Semiconductor ASA
+ *
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+ */
+
+/ {
+	zephyr_uhc0: uhc_vrt0 {
+		compatible = "zephyr,uhc-virtual";
+
+		zephyr_udc0: udc_vrt0 {
+			compatible = "zephyr,udc-virtual";
+			num-bidir-endpoints = <8>;
+			maximum-speed = "high-speed";
+		};
+
+		udc1: udc_vrt1 {
+			compatible = "zephyr,udc-virtual";
+			num-bidir-endpoints = <8>;
+			maximum-speed = "full-speed";
+		};
+	};
+};
diff --git a/samples/subsys/usb/shell/device_and_host_prj.conf b/samples/subsys/usb/shell/device_and_host_prj.conf
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..04127e7de58
--- /dev/null
+++ b/samples/subsys/usb/shell/device_and_host_prj.conf
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+CONFIG_SHELL=y
+CONFIG_USB_DEVICE_STACK_NEXT=y
+CONFIG_USBD_SHELL=y
+
+CONFIG_USB_HOST_STACK=y
+CONFIG_USBH_SHELL=y
+
+CONFIG_LOG=y
+CONFIG_USBD_LOG_LEVEL_WRN=y
+CONFIG_USBH_LOG_LEVEL_WRN=y
+CONFIG_UDC_DRIVER_LOG_LEVEL_WRN=y
+CONFIG_UHC_DRIVER_LOG_LEVEL_WRN=y
diff --git a/samples/subsys/usb/shell/sample.yaml b/samples/subsys/usb/shell/sample.yaml
index 7a1ce2bbf8f..2c9efe63f6d 100644
--- a/samples/subsys/usb/shell/sample.yaml
+++ b/samples/subsys/usb/shell/sample.yaml
@@ -6,3 +6,18 @@ tests:
     depends_on: usb_device
     harness: keyboard
     tags: usb
+  sample.usbh.shell:
+    depends_on: usb_device
+    tags: usb shield
+    extra_args: CONF_FILE="device_and_host_prj.conf"
+                SHIELD="sparkfun_max3421e"
+    platform_allow: nrf52840dk_nrf52840 frdm_k64f
+    build_only: true
+  sample.usbh.shell.virtual:
+    depends_on: usb_device
+    tags: usb
+    extra_args: CONF_FILE="device_and_host_prj.conf"
+                OVERLAY_CONFIG="virtual.conf"
+                DTC_OVERLAY_FILE="virtual.overlay"
+    platform_allow: qemu_cortex_m3
+    build_only: true
diff --git a/samples/subsys/usb/shell/virtual.conf b/samples/subsys/usb/shell/virtual.conf
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..58132f17be8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/samples/subsys/usb/shell/virtual.conf
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+# Copyright (c) 2022 Nordic Semiconductor ASA
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+
+CONFIG_UHC_DRIVER=y
+CONFIG_USB_HOST_STACK=y
diff --git a/samples/subsys/usb/shell/virtual.overlay b/samples/subsys/usb/shell/virtual.overlay
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..fe0be4060be
--- /dev/null
+++ b/samples/subsys/usb/shell/virtual.overlay
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (c) 2022 Nordic Semiconductor ASA
+ *
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+ */
+
+/delete-node/ &zephyr_udc0;
+
+/ {
+	zephyr_uhc0: uhc_vrt0 {
+		compatible = "zephyr,uhc-virtual";
+
+		zephyr_udc0: udc_vrt0 {
+			compatible = "zephyr,udc-virtual";
+			num-bidir-endpoints = <8>;
+			maximum-speed = "high-speed";
+		};
+
+		udc1: udc_vrt1 {
+			compatible = "zephyr,udc-virtual";
+			num-bidir-endpoints = <8>;
+			maximum-speed = "full-speed";
+		};
+	};
+};