Word count of a 15/20 minute presentation?

I have to write a 15/20 minute presentation for my boss and he is not the type to practise it to see how long it takes! I was thinking that around 1500 words, as he is french so is a little slower reading english. Does that sound about right, or is it not enough?

Question from Tim Camefan. 

Number of words in a presentation

In terms of a presentation then the average tends to be 100 to 150 words per minute – but this is a broad average and does not reflect the way that your boss speaks.

Probably the best effect would be to get your boss to read out a speech – perhaps you could use one of the famous speeches on our website and time how long it takes. You can then work out the speed that he speaks at.

The only thing that this would tend to miss out on is the use of pauses. Pauses can be very powerful. Perhaps for example you could ask the audience a rhetorical question and then wait for an answer. This would all tend to slow down the word count.

Overall somewhere between 1500 and 2000 words should put you in the right area.

Answer thanks to The Presentation Doctor.